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© KYODOJapan to suspend Go To Travel campaign for whole country from Dec 28-Jan 11
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Gobshite
Don't have to go to the in-laws then, winner!!!!!
Ed Rowe
So what does that mean..I made a reservation and paid to Okinawa?? Dec 27
shogun36
I can't tell if this is a play to save the Government Oyaji bonuses.........or to save people
NO
It's strictly to save The Diet's winter bonuses. Thanks guys.
Alex
wow finally !
ADK99
The real risk over the holiday period isn't people going to hotels, it's people traveling from the metropolises to visit family in the countryside and then spending several days cooped up inside with them. All of the Japanese people I have talked to have been weighing up the wisdom of doing this WITHOUT considering Goto Travel. In a normal year they would go, this year some (many) say they won't, but it's because of fear of transmitting the virus and not because of cheap train tickets.
theResident
Well - I agree with the suspension, but looking at what has happened overnight, most hotels (obviously) have a glut of rooms for a chunk of that period now, especially the 9th-11th weekend as packages with travel have been cancelled - so the dynamic pricing algorithm has kicked in and reduced room rates by 20% anyway. It will stop people travelling in the huge numbers I hope, but with hotel prices at lows for as long as I can remember as there are no tourists people are still going to travel.
Christopher Glen
“but it will not make people stay home, especially those who care little about the virus”
It’s not so much that, it’s about proportion. For something that has a recovery rate over 90 percent
Christopher Glen
“Half the people who are against the Go To are jealous because they can't afford to.Like above statement.First degree jealousy or what?”
Fair point. It certainly helped when I was in Aizu and Nagoya. Local businesses need all the help they can get
Christopher Glen
“Like Japan, many are out of work including myself. Many business have failed.”
Likely due to the measures you described. Ardern’s approach is like hitting a peanut with a sledgehammer
rcch
Better safe than sorry I guess. :(
ShinCebu
Go to Travel is like a Car without brake.
ZENJI
I live in New Zealand. As you know, through good leader-ship, we went early, we went hard, TWICE!
Our Land Mass is similar, our population is much smaller, 5.5 million.
So the virus is easier to control (true) At the moment we have less than 50 dead, just over 1000 infected persons, less than 20 in hospital.
Like Japan, many are out of work including myself. Many business have failed.
Support is now minimal. Crime is on the Up. The building blocks are being placed in line, slow and careful
progress is being made. Strong border controls are catching those who come into the country.
A 14 day compulsory period in controlled isolation, mostly catches those who develop virus symptoms.
I watched a programme on NHK WORLD about the early days of the pandemic in the hospitals.
Gut wrenching, depressing and inspired leadership from hospital managers turned a mega disaster
into a managed disaster. This was a case of CARE above CASH.
This travel locally scheme is the opposite. This is CASH over CARE.
The result of this is now Many new infections, Many new deaths and a lot of misery
carpslidy
I have from the spring said wear a mask take sensible precautions but otherwise keep society moving forward.
Supporting balancing the economy and health is nothing to apologize about.
And honestly I am okay with that .
Christopher Glen
“I know people who have and have died from this virus”
That one has been thrown out there a thousand times in the last few months and...that hook has lost its bait.
But shall we consider the marriages that have collapsed or those who’ve suicides as a result of the hysteria. Do they not matter to you?
Christopher Glen
“Probably for the best although tourism and related industries are taking an almighty hiding.”
Agreed. Part of the reason I was in Aizu and Nagoya, helping local businesses
Christopher Glen
The fatalities, are what unfortunately matters. Not the cases.
We have anywhere between a 90-99 percent recovery rate. That needs to be focussed on, rather than “cases”.
Glad I got my discounts in recently
Sven Asai
The strange thing , around the globe btw, is, they don’t care about it all if it is about crowded commuting and workplaces, businesses, doing other duties. All restrictions are completely and only set on everything entertaining, leisure, relaxation, regaining energy from that working. Does anybody else find that somehow suspect, too? If the virus is dangerous during travel or eating in restaurants, it is at least equally dangerous in trains, buses , offices, stores and so on. If they really wanted to fight the virus they had typo cut all activities equally. No, it becomes obvious they only want to exploit us more and tighten the rope around all our necks. I am for strict corona measures, but not this one-sided way. It of course also won’t help against that virus, can only insignificantly slow down the curves a bit. Their real intentions belong visible on the table!
Waywardnihon
And you should be apologising for the months and months of encouraging reckless behaviour and promoting dubious and false information which has allowed for the failed strategy and for the situation to continue.
I agree, schadenfreude is not an attractive quality, but it is those who failed to take the virus seriously and actively promoted a chevalier attitude who are responsible for the situation now, not those protested the clearly inadequate response in Japan.
kaimycahl
Wow can't believe some of the comments here some people putting enjoyment over life. I know people who have and have died from this virus. I don't think traveling is worth the risk of contacting it. Its not a good SIGHT OR FEELING being on your back!!
carpslidy
All the tourism industry, restaurants etc are doing is trying to make a living.
I imagine your job isn't to cure cancer, so I wonder how compassionate you would be when its time to sacrifice your job ?
I don't work in the service industry but I have the humbleness to realize my job isn't indispensable and thus have great sympathy for anyone trying to make a living in an affected industry.
HenryK
Have fun in your own city or at home.
Not a time to travel and spread COVID.
People are sick and dying.
It's the government's responsibility to help the suffering businesses.
Lives first.
carpslidy
That people cant travel to see family members, that the medical industry cant handle this number of cases, that people will lose their jobs, that people are literally killing themselves , is nothing to celebrate.
How messed up to you have to be that your actually happy it's come to this.
What so you can say I told you so?
So, you can feel safe at the expense of people's livelihoods?
There is nothing to celebrate, you should be disappointed this situation continues, not happy it didn't work out.
otherworldly
I believe you are free, you can still do whatever you want, you just won't get the "GO TO" discounts.
carpslidy
Think of all the poor people in the tourism industry who are now facing great difficults. And you acting like you've lottery numbers come in.
Idiot
Arrrgh-Type
Bad timing. Would have been better to do this much earlier to get infections under control and at a lower base rate before everybody travels for the holidays. Now, we get the worst of all worlds- higher infections overall and having to watch our backs even more than normal during our time off.
HenryK
Best news all evening!
Folks who can't have fun during the pandemic. Sorry. haha
virusrex
Sorry, yes the accumulated cases for this 2020-2021 season. For the last season until March cases were still reported around in the media.
Steve808
What happens if you book a trip from December 25 Xmas to December 29th to Okinawa? How does the new GOTO Travel rules affect this plan? Its it exempt or still ok?
garth
Not for a couple of months after that, and its effects won't become evident in the population as a whole right away, especially as this evening NHK news reported that in a survey only 50% responded that they intend to get vaccinated.
divinda
I think you're a little off, or do you mean "in this whole 2020/21 season starting in September (so far)"?
Because daily Covid is still a bit below this year's (2020's) total influenza of 4 million or so cases (the vast majority of which was between January and March).
kibousha
Had to stay at a hotel for work a few weeks ago. They do take a lot of precautions, yet, at service area of highway, young people laughing, talking out loud, while having lunches without masks on.
Sure, pausing of goto travel is preventative, it will hit a lot of hotels, but it will not make people stay home, especially those who care little about the virus, they'll still go out and spread it.
Bernard Marx
This sucks. Now I will have to pay full price for my trip. Oh well....
SandyBeachHeaven
I booked and paid for my eighth trip. Kyoto for four nights January 6-9th.
I wonder how much I would have to add to the cost, because we are going anyway.
smithinjapan
I love how they set the dates here from A to B, as though the virus will obey and be satisfied with those dates. Don't get me wrong, it's good they are 'cancelling' it (not really cancelled if they are planning to start it up again), although this is closing the barn six months after the horses left, but seriously... people are going to have two more weeks during the PEAK of the outbreak to use the system? That's two whole weeks that people will pack into places to take advantage -- and trust me, they will abuse it and pack places -- including some holidays or many.
Ridiculous.
Jimizo
Probably for the best although tourism and related industries are taking an almighty hiding.
What is being done to help?
factchecker
Cancel it.
carpslidy
Hysteria wins again,
Go-to is no more or less dangerous than yesterday, its just more unpopular that's all.
Cricky
That decision must’ve hurt. Less largess for the LDP.
rainyday
Better to extend it until the vaccine is distributed in the spring and just give the money directly to shut down businesses to help them make it through.
jojobird
What about reservations that are already made? Seriously, asking for a friend.
divinda
Why wait 2 weeks to suspend it?
Doctors and "experts" have been calling for this suspension for weeks already.
If they want to prevent it rom spreading any more, why not start tomorrow?
Will the virus somehow not spread for the next 2 weeks?
TheRat
How many meetings you all think it took (and for how long, how many experts?) were needed to make this call?
Fanny Greene
Only country I know actively encouraging travel during a pandemic. At least in Hawaii you need a negative test to get in. Madness.
Goodlucktoyou
Damn! I have a second booking for Japan 2-4. Hate Suga.
AG
Well, while this is a good start, only this measure will obviously not be enough to reduce numbers.
Hoping for a strong message from Suga soon, to ensure the population takes this virus seriously and stops packing izakayas, restaurants, bars like pre covid times.
Also, something as promoting remote working would be a strong measure, that would result in a decrease in cases, as many clusters happen in workplaces and who knows... maybe in the peak hour packed trains!
kyushubill
Well glad they are on top of things in a timely manner.
And to think I thought there incompetance at play.
Do the hustle
Talk about leaving it to the last minute! Most people would have already made plans and bookings. Many would have paid in advance expecting to get the rebate. Now, they don’t have to pay anybody. Seems more like a governmental cash grab than an effort to curb the spread of the virus.