Despite Japan’s plan to start easing the travel restrictions currently in place following the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), foreign tourists are still barred from entering the country, a Philippine Embassy official in Tokyo said on Friday.
“Japan is not yet open to tourists and our friends from the government of Japan will announce the new policies in the next few weeks or months on what to do to further ease the restrictions," Deputy Chief of Mission Robespierre Bolivar said at the Laging Handa briefing.
Bolivar explained that the new Japanese policy only applies to foreigners with long-term resident status and those with permits to stay in the country.
Last week, the Japanese government said it plans to reopen its borders to mid- and long-term visitors from around the world as early as October, except for tourists.
Reports emanating from Tokyo said travelers who will stay in Japan for more than three months for business or other non-tourism purposes are expected to be the first ones allowed to enter the country.
Quoting government sources, it was also reported that the Japanese government will set a maximum daily quota of 1,000 entrants.
To this date, travel warnings are still in place for 159 countries and regions affected by the pandemic.