Travel

Japan weighs ending pre-arrival COVID test requirement

Aug 23 (Nikkei) - Japan's government is considering ending the pre-arrival COVID-19 testing requirement for inbound travelers who are vaccinated, Nikkei has learned.

The current border controls require travelers to show proof of a negative test result from within 72 hours of departure. As some countries curtail their testing capabilities, obtaining the necessary documents has become more difficult.

A decision will be made soon, taking the country's case count into consideration. The easing is likely to take effect within a few weeks.

Japan's coronavirus-related entry rules are the toughest in the Group of Seven advanced economies. The testing requirement has been an obstacle for Japanese business and leisure travelers, as well as for efforts to draw visitors back to the country.

Accepted tests include the relatively costly PCR, but not rapid antigen tests.

The government also will consider raising the daily cap on people arriving in Japan from the current 20,000. ...continue reading

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