Japan halts new arrivals from around world; suspends Go To Travel campaign

ok

wonderful news but it took many infection to make this far. Hope the bann the Goto stuff especially during a massive pandemic.

Giving priority to businessman and students? And that's also from China and South Korea. It doesn't make sense. Then all the big airports now should be 30% airport 70% hospital.

Suga government's response is also too late and too loose as same as previous Abe government.

Arrogant they had overestimated quarantine despite insufficient resouce, and has caused community acquired infection as same as this February.

Suga government has no ability to learn from lesson or fault or history.

could be up to 70 percent more transmissible but there was no evidence of it being deadlier

May not be deadlier but more infected means more deaths as well

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga told reporters Monday that the government implemented the new arrival restrictions to "protect our citizen's lives and livelihoods, by taking measures in advance"

Id like to know what dictionary this man reads when he defines “in advance.”

Well, it all makes sense. Businessmen have something in their bodies which them more immune to the virus.

So dumb bottom decision making, could have done it 10 months ago? But the meeting about that was canceled due to the government sacking the first experts and getting new experts who say the same thing? But the LDP really need to listen to geriatric old company bosses, pandemic is just an upstart communist plot has nothing to do with their decision making.?...

Businesspeople and students from 10 Asian nations such as mainland China and South Korea plus Taiwan, with which Japan has a special scheme to ease travel restrictions, are not affected by the latest measure.

Wow..what an airtight policy. lol

the government also expanded Monday its suspension of its Go To Travel tourism promotion campaign across the country through Jan 11.

Still going to Nara and Kyoto from the 6th through 12th

I like it like this.

never any other way

Just like down under except

The ones not affected by the latest measure.

Businesspeople and students from 10 Asian nations such as mainland China and South Korea plus Taiwan, with which Japan has a special scheme to ease travel restrictions, are not affected by the latest measure.

So original corona and this one with a twist doesn't affect people with money? News to me.

Excited, next GoTo Travel on Jan2.

close the borders. Test.

Japan's ancient capital Kyoto, another popular tourist draw, was also affected, with Kiyotaka Fujiki, an 82-year-old souvenir shop manager saying he expects sales during the New Year holiday season to be less than 10 percent of that seen in normal years.

Mr Fujiki , surely it is time to retire?

It can’t be worth getting out of bed in the morning, can it?

".....suspended new entries into the country by nonresident foreign nationals....."

Someone needs to teach politicians and bureaucrats that it isn't only foreigners who can catch and transmit the Covid-19 virus.

This reminds me of what Trump did just before the first wave in The States; he banned Chinese citizens from entering the USA, but allowed over 40,000 people with American or dual citizenship to come into the country from China. We all know how well that worked.

Spending so much tax payer money on the GoTo travel and eat campaigns has been such a huge waste of money... they should and could have spend the money on people in need, poor people and families who lost there jobs, etc., instead the Japanese gouvernement gave the money to the rich for them to travel... of course due to conflicts of interests within the government tied with agencies etc., and this costed many lives too... it’s a huge waste and utterly sickening.

".....suspended new entries into the country by nonresident foreign nationals....."

Someone needs to teach politicians and bureaucrats that it isn't only foreigners who can catch and transmit the Covid-19 virus. 

This reminds me of what Trump did just before the first wave in The States; he banned Chinese citizens from entering the USA, but allowed over 40,000 people with American or dual citizenship to come into the country from China. We all know how well that worked.

Exactly...these measures do next to nothing to prevent the spread!

Let’s put an end to this and cancel the Olympics for 2021. Apparently, the tax payers are being taken for a ride by Koike and the IOC. If I were a sponsor, I would have pulled out.

Mr Fujiki , surely it is time to retire?

He's probably retired already, and this is just a hobby business.

SandyBeachHeaven Today  06:10 pm JST

Still going to Nara and Kyoto from the 6th through 12th

This is the ninth time you’ve shared this detail with us in the last four weeks.

Just sayin’

sating lives are most important.

Used go-to yesterday

Next December 2 I have to pay 100% but got a great deal on the hotel.

And what is the plan for pilots and cabin staff?

Hawaii is still open for business ! I sure hope I can survive !

This Go To Travel campaign should have been halted months ago. If the govt. wanted people to support businesses, they should have thought of a way where it is easier to control health and safety. As it is, the have been encouraging the spread of the virus as well as of money.

@Ashley Shiba: Not that I doubt that we will see the Tokyo average infection rate spiking above an average of 1000 daily this week, but I'd just like to know are your 'friends' sources at a local or national government level?,and the same I would ask of your doctor 'friends' you so often quote and have been since the Pandemic began. I find your 'reports' very one sided with no personal opinion.

With my usage of the GoToTravel campaign I have found it to be absolutely positive and excellent. The hotel staff, train staff, travel agents and others have been so careful for health reasons besides their extraordinary care in making your trip a wonderful experience.

Eating in hotels has been amazing. Fully separated and blocked off tables, plastic gloves, hand sanitizers and special Mask containers. All tables immaculately wiped down after you leave and the care is fabulous.

Not concerned about having to pay extra for my upcoming trip to Kyoto for the fourth time in 14 months, and looking for to Okinawa again soon afterwards.

It feels good to help hotels and small mom and pop restaurants and shops out as well.

Wash hands well and just be vigilant.

I highly recommend anyone to travel now even without the GTT campaign.

@SandyBeachHeavan:

Totally agree with all your experiences. I too will stick to my plans for 9-11 January even without the Go To campaign. The pains that tourism staff are going to make our trips safe and THEIR jobs safe is above and beyond. A example to the rest of the world.

@theResident: I am in total agreement with you.

And the attitude of staff everywhere is fantastic as well.