national

Japan's Go To travel subsidy campaign kicks off

34 Comments

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© KYODO

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

34 Comments
Login to comment

Japanese Abe Govt has still done nothing except calling for prevention to nation people.

Unlike many countries, this Govt does not increase drastically PCR test or isolation facilities, does not make even system that workers of hospitals or welfare facilities can get virus test periodically.

Abe Govt's optimism without basis caused this serious situation, endanger general public and will increase victim again.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

@rainyday judging by the link you posted, it looks like the Japanese government are only "considering" help us tourists out, rather than "guarantee" helping us out with discounted travel.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Is this a good idea!???

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"I checked various websites but found the application procedure too complicated," she said.

Not that complicated. Get the receipts of your trip then go to your town office and fill out the paperwork like many other things here.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Edited: "Japan's travel subsidy campaign kicked off Wednesday to help revive ...... the novel coronavirus,......"

2 ( +2 / -0 )

How many times will we have to repeat the COVID-19 drill?

Probably not many if the history of the Spanish Flu is any guide. It was not eradicated by vigilance and vaccination you know. These things do change on their own.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Go To Travel will result in many more COVID-19 cases throughout the country. Every country that has tried to open to early has been taught a lesson by this virus. Unfortunately, if there are a lot more cases more people will lose their lives. The virus is starting to spread in more than half of prefectures as seen in today's news. Why is it spreading? It's only because people are not following the guidelines. There is a popular saying that repeating the same failing behavior over and over meets the definition of insanity. How many times will we have to repeat the COVID-19 drill?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

"I find it unfair (that Tokyo was excluded)," said a 59-year-old woman living in Tokyo, who was leaving from the city's Haneda airport for a four-day trip with her 62-year-old sister to Hiroshima and Shimane prefectures and elsewhere.

I find it unfair that people who are carrying the virus from Tokyo all over the country too. But then you would care about that either would you?

If people want Tokyo to be included, get tested, quarantine yourself for two weeks, then go on your trip!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Japan's travel subsidy campaign kicked off Wednesday to help revive a domestic tourism industry stricken by the novel coronavirus

(in the same article)

at a time when the nationwide tally of infections has started picking up again.

A counter productive idea that was thought up by ignorant pencil pushers in one of the worst years ever in modern history?

I don't see what could possibly go wrong at all...............

5 ( +5 / -0 )

"We will thoroughly implement anti-infection measures and prevent people from falling into serious condition,"

Oh tell me more, O Dear Leader - what magic amakudari stick will you shake to alleviate symptoms of COVID-19?

Because, you know, people are dying of it and the world economy had to stop - you have the sorcery to stop people getting seriously ill? Why didn't you wave that wand in February?

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Japan's Go To travel subsidy campaign kicks off

As Tokyo's cumulative coronavirus case total tops 10,000; Osaka reports record daily high

This will not end well.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

"I find it unfair (that Tokyo was excluded)," said a 59-year-old woman living in Tokyo, who was leaving from the city's Haneda airport for a four-day trip with her 62-year-old sister to Hiroshima and Shimane prefectures and elsewhere.

That's because you are self-centered. And, clearly intending to travel regardless. Stop your whining.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

Here you go, have fun with this:

Just discovered another definition of PDF. It ain't repeatable.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

 application procedure too complicated

SOP for Japan. Why make something efficient and easy, when it can be complicated and time-consuming.

Just look at the number of helpers at ATMs in banks and other places.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

The Go To travel campaign, which will see the government cover part of the cost of tourist trips, was launched in the face of worries that the initiative could worsen the virus outbreak at a time when the nationwide tally of infections has started picking up again.""

By far this is the most IRRESPONSIBLE, Ignorant and selfish decision the department made.

It's what COVID-19 would have wished for to complete his mission. People can wait till it under control and have a full enjoyable vacation instead of a HALF A$$ one.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

""The Go To travel campaign, which will see the government cover part of the cost of tourist trips, was launched in the face of worries that the initiative could worsen the virus outbreak at a time when the nationwide tally of infections has started picking up again.""

By far this is the most IRRESPONSIBLE

10 ( +10 / -0 )

In the supposedly last throughs of this pandemic to actively encourage this travel lunacy is without doubt impudent and nonsensical, reckless.

Then to subsidise this foolish endeavour to the tune of 1.35 trillion yen is taking irresponsible to another level.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Under the 1.35 trillion yen ($12.59 billion) tourism push

Misplaced priority.

Money that could have gone towards purchasing thousands of fully Automatic PCR machines and give the country the ability to carry out 500,000 pcr test a day.

Well why test if you can dish out low numbers and declare virus defeated

By some the japan model.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

the government will eventually subsidize up to half of travel expenses, including accommodation and transport fees. Initially, it will provide discounts worth 35 percent of total costs.

The remaining 15 percent will be covered by coupons to be issued after September for food, shopping and other travel activities offered at destinations.

Can anyone understand and explain this reasoning? I've heard this scheme touted repeatedly, but does anyone in government, tourism, or the media understand basic math??

"Half of travel expences"... but with the described method, how is that possibly done? Because its 35% + 15%? Those are two seperate expenses (accommodation, and food/activities/shopping)

Imagine:

-total hotel bill of 10,000 yen, so 3,500 discount with 6,500 paid by user

-total shopping/activity/food bill of 10,000 yen, so 1,500 discount and 8,500 paid by user

-total travel expences = 20,000 yen, with 5,000 total discount and 15,000 paid by user

That is 25%, and no matter how you slice it, its never 50%.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

@rainyday

Oof. Gotta love the 概要 PDF. The penultimate page is particularly great. Whoever designed it doesn't know that using underlined, red font for accent/emphasis doesn't work so well when you've done it to the majority of the text!

That is a classic. Your eye is actually kind of drawn to the parts that aren't in red since they are in the minority!

6 ( +6 / -0 )

They will make a serious documentary about this one day and it will win best comedy of the year. They that being bueacatics and politicians think they are so smart but I'm afraid their pants are down and nobody is impressed with the results.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

@rainyday

Oof. Gotta love the 概要 PDF. The penultimate page is particularly great. Whoever designed it doesn't know that using underlined, red font for accent/emphasis doesn't work so well when you've done it to the majority of the text!

You can't unsee that mess.

I can only imagine the PowerPoint version of it would have been even worse. They probably tried to cram it all onto one slide.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Others complained application websites for the campaign are not user-friendly.

Any campaign that doesn’t have a character mascot doing a song and dance will be difficult to use.

12 ( +12 / -0 )

@rainyday

Oof. Gotta love the 概要 PDF. The penultimate page is particularly great. Whoever designed it doesn't know that using underlined, red font for accent/emphasis doesn't work so well when you've done it to the majority of the text!

11 ( +11 / -0 )

First, the ugly Abe-masks that nobody wanted and arrived exactly at my place when you could buy masks at every drug store. Then, the promised 100.000 yen which take decades to be transfered to our accounts. Now, every day we are having significantly more new cases than before the state of emergency was declared. So the best the government can come up with is to launch a campaign that invites the virus to spread throughout the country. What a terrible resume for Abe.

14 ( +14 / -0 )

Trust the government to come up with a taxpayer-funded, silly campaign, with an even sillier name, that rewards reckless behaviour.

Where's my 20,000 yen a night for staying home?

15 ( +16 / -1 )

A virtual tour would've been better instead. Let's hope the people are smart enough to know what they should do during a time like this

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Others complained application websites for the campaign are not user-friendly.

I just checked and OH GOD YES that is right. its the typical Japanese government website which throws all sorts of information at you about the rationale for the program and how the bureaucrats who came up with it envisage it operating.

But if you are a regular person looking to just simply apply to use the program? HA! Instead of a handy "Apply Here" button or something like that you instead get a link to.....PDF files! Which explain all the rules governing the program in detail. But don't provide you a clear path to follow if you want to actually apply to the program either.

Here you go, have fun with this:

https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/page01_000637.html

16 ( +18 / -2 )

"I find it unfair (that Tokyo was excluded)," said a 59-year-old woman living in Tokyo, who was leaving from the city's Haneda airport for a four-day trip with her 62-year-old sister to Hiroshima and Shimane prefectures and elsewhere.

So much for excluding Tokyo in order to prevent residents from travelling elsewhere....

10 ( +12 / -2 )

Traveling during a pandemic is irresponsible and idiotic.

24 ( +30 / -6 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites