Coronavirus: Japan’s travel restrictions for China, South Korea kick in

A visa-waiver programme for tourists from Hong Kong and Macau has also been suspended
The curbs will likely deal a blow to Japan’s economy as Chinese and South Korean travellers account for about half of all tourists to the country

Coronavirus pandemic

Kyodo

Published: 1:28pm, 9 Mar 2020

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Japan implemented tougher border control measures on Monday for travellers from China and South Korea, effectively banning tourists from the two countries through the end of this month as part of measures to prevent a surge in coronavirus infections.

Nearly 3 million visas already issued to Chinese and South Korean nationals, also including to residents of Hong Kong and Macau, were invalidated. The step, however, will not invalidate the periods of stay of people from the two countries already in Japan.

All arrivals from the two countries, meanwhile, including Japanese and other foreign nationals, will be asked to undergo a 14-day quarantine on a voluntary basis.

The travel restrictions came as Japan steps up efforts to contain the spread of the virus with less than five months to go to the Tokyo Olympics. But they will likely deal a blow to Japan’s economy as visitors from China and South Korea account for about half of all tourists to the country.

South Korea, angered by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s sudden announcement late last week of the travel curbs, began taking reciprocal measures on Monday against Japan as ties between the two countries, already frayed over wartime issues, came under new stress.

Under Japan’s scheme, people entering the country from China and South Korea will be asked to travel to and stay at designated facilities such as hotels at their own expense, where they will be quarantined for 14 days, and to avoid public transport and use private cars. Those who have no homes of their own have been asked to secure accommodation in advance.

Japan’s quarantine rules for tourists slammed as coming ‘too late’

The voluntary quarantine will also apply to those who enter Japan from China or South Korea through a connecting flight from another country.

While Chinese and South Korean visitors already in Japan will not have their periods of stay terminated, if they leave the country they will not be able to re-enter using multiple visas while the visa nullification is in force.

A visa-waiver programme covering 90-day short stays by tourists from South Korea, Hong Kong and Macau has also been suspended, while airline companies will limit flights from China and South Korea to two airports – Narita, east of Tokyo, and Kansai in Osaka prefecture.

Of the roughly 3 million visas invalidated, about 2.8 million are for Chinese and about 17,000 for South Koreans, according to the Foreign Ministry.

On Monday, flights heading to Japan from Chinese and South Korean airports were scarce.

Two university students who arrived at Kansai International Airport after a trip to South Korea said their flight had been empty with only three passengers aboard.

“I was worried about whether we would be able to enter (Japan),” said Wakaba Suganami, 19. “I wouldn’t have thought the situation would become as serious as it has.”

Opposition party lawmakers, who slammed Abe for what they called his relaxed initial reaction to the spread of the novel coronavirus, and some health experts have questioned the effectiveness of the quarantine measures since they are voluntary.

On Monday, Abe told a parliamentary session that Japan is weighing the need to impose travel restrictions on visitors from Italy as well as the country has seen a sharp jump in coronavirus infections.

“We have been discussing whether to include Italy. We will not hesitate to do so if the need arises,” Abe said.

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte signed a decree on Sunday, putting the Lombardy region that includes Milan and 14 other provinces under lockdown as the total number of cases surpassed 7,300.

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This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Japan begins voluntary quarantine for travellers from China and S Korea

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