Japan receives 8,700 visitors in Aug, down 99.7% from year ago

If only "residents" are allowd to enter, then who are these "visitors" and how have they been allowed to enter?

That's 8700 too many tourists/visitors. They should only be allowing residents back in.

If only "residents" are allowd to enter, then who are these "visitors" and how have they been allowed to enter?

> That's 8700 too many tourists/visitors. They should only be allowing residents back in.

The answer is in the article, and it makes it misleading as well, while it's the Japan Tourism Agency that is putting out the number's, it's only "foreign travelers" not specifically tourists, that are being allowed into the country, and only those with some type of residency status here.

While Japan continues to restrict in principle the entry of foreign nationals from 159 countries and regions, the restrictions have been eased for those who hold residential status in Japan coming from countries with relatively few confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, including Thailand and Vietnam.

I'd like to know who they were, also. I'm surprised there could have been that many. If they were tourists, did they self-quarantine for two weeks? Were they businesspeople? They would hardly be able to stay in quarantine for two weeks.

Well there are a lot of people on private charted planes? Have meetings to attend!

There are definitely tourists around.

It is odd when you think about the rules, but it’s definitely going on albeit small scale.

I live in Namba and its quite obvious whos a tourist.

RecklessToday 10:30 am JST

Come hell or high water I will visit the US for Christmas. Based on the current situation it may be one way.

"Last Christmas I gave you my love, and the very next day Japan turned me away..."

Come hell or high water I will visit the US for Christmas. Based on the current situation it may be one way.

Bye!

How on earth can anyone be coming from China? Are these Chinese nationals? As others have said, I would rather residents have priority, but the Japanese government doesn't give a damn. Only money. Most other countries, whether doing better or worse than Japan in terms of the pandemic, have mostly treated residents the same as its own citizens. I will have zero sympathy when the Olympics are cancelled.

@smartacus

I'd like to know who they were, also. I'm surprised there could have been that many. If they were tourists, did they self-quarantine for two weeks? Were they businesspeople? They would hardly be able to stay in quarantine for two weeks.

Yeah that is a good question. Considering that the article was saying that those who have residency status in Japan made up a good number of them, it would be good to have this clarified. I mean I know about the deal allowing business been from Thailand and Vietnam, so I would like to know those numbers as well. Business people versus residents vs. regular tourists.

This article can't make up it's mind. Is it talking about visitors or residents? We are led to believe the former is not possible currently, but the title and article use the word "visitors".