If Japan continues to implement border control measures against the novel coronavirus that are unusually strict even by international standards, it could lead to the stagnation of the economy and social activities. It is vital to promote the resumption of the flow of people to and from overseas, while taking sufficient pandemic measures.
The government said it would relax border control measures implemented in response to the outbreak of the omicron variant. It plans to permit the entry of foreign businesspeople and students from March, changing its policy of banning, in principle, nonresident foreigners from visiting Japan.
For the time being, the government will raise the maximum number of people allowed to enter Japan per day from about 3,500 to about 5,000, and increase the number of nonresident foreign nationals it allows into the country.
