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Free travel in Japan|Japan, South Korea and Thailand loosen epidemic prevention measures to see the latest measures of "Hong Kong people's tourism hotspots"

2022-09-23T14:16:37.652Z


Many countries or regions around the world have eased epidemic prevention restrictions on inbound tourists when the government believes that their novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) epidemic has stabilized or slowed down in order to boost tourism and the economy. The following are


Many countries or regions around the world have eased epidemic prevention restrictions on inbound tourists when the government believes that their novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) epidemic has stabilized or slowed down in order to boost tourism and the economy.

The following are the latest travel-related changes in epidemic prevention measures in Japan, South Korea and Thailand, which are popular tourist destinations for Hong Kong people in Hong Kong 01.


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Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced on September 22 that

Japan will resume visa-free free travel from October 11, and at the same time cancel the limit on the number of people entering the country.

Passengers who originally went to Japan without a visa before the epidemic still need a visa to go to Japan due to epidemic prevention restrictions. However, from October 11, they will no longer need to apply for a tourist visa and do not need to book a tour group through a travel agency.

The country began to ease the entry of foreign tourists in June, but tourists still need to apply for a visa through a travel agency to enter the country.

Fumio Kishida said on August 31 that the daily maximum number of entries will be raised to 50,000 from September 7, and entry restrictions will be further eased, and groups without tour guides will be relaxed.

On August 31, he also announced the further relaxation of epidemic prevention restrictions, allowing unguided tourists from all countries to enter and travel.

One of the key points in the lifting of restrictions this time is to allow "unguided tour groups" to enter the country for sightseeing.

Previously, travel to Japan had to be accompanied by a Japanese accompanying person.

No more accompanying people will be required, which will mean that passengers are "virtually" free to move around.

However, this is still a long way from traveling freely in Japan in the past.

The picture shows Japanese people passing through the gate of the tram station.

(Getty)

It's not "Real Japan Free Travel" at the moment

The Tourism Agency updated its guidelines for travel agencies on the 2nd, requiring travel agencies to contact these travelers who are actually free to move at any time.

According to the guidelines, travel agencies are required to obtain the contact information of passengers so that they can be contacted at any time.

The Tourism Agency does not stipulate how travel agencies must contact passengers. Telephone, email, and SMS are all acceptable methods of contact.

Travel agencies are required to explain these details to travelers and obtain their consent before selling package tours to travelers.

After travelers arrive in Japan, travel agencies must contact them and ask them to comply with epidemic prevention measures, such as wearing masks.

Travel agencies are required to take action when a traveler is unwell or has a positive result on a COVID-19 test.

The picture shows the Grand Palace of Thailand, one of the tourist hot spots in Thailand.

(Grand Palace website)

Thailand lifts 'two requirements' for tourists

Thailand's Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration agreed on September 23 that the state of emergency will not be extended after the expiration of the new crown pneumonia epidemic on the 30th.

Before the announcement of the new measures, after the National Communicable Disease Committee met on the 21st, Thailand's Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul announced on the 22nd that

travelers to Thailand would not need to provide proof of vaccination or test results. .

Tourists participating in crowded activities and entering crowded public places do not need to show proof of vaccination.

Anutin said patients with mild or asymptomatic symptoms do not need to be quarantined.

He said they would be required to follow generally accepted disease control measures, including wearing masks, social distancing and more frequent hand washing, for five days.

Thailand has extended the period for foreign tourists to stay in Thailand.

The Thai cabinet has approved visa-free entry for tourists to stay in Thailand for 45 days (previously 30 days), and those eligible for a visa on arrival can stay for 30 days (previously 15 days).

This new visa system will take effect from October 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023.

Thailand's new crown pneumonia epidemic: The picture shows people celebrating the Songkran Festival in Bangkok, Thailand, on April 13, 2022.

(Getty)

▼As Thailand regains lost ground in the tourism industry, tourists may not have a lot to spend in Thailand.

At the end of July, it was reported that the Thai government was planning to implement a "double tax" structure on the hotel industry, and foreign tourists may have to pay higher fees

.

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South Korea will cancel the test within 1 day of entry?

South Korean Prime Minister Han Tizhu said on September 23 that the government has decided to cancel all mandatory outdoor masks from next week, but the indoor mask order will be maintained.

When presiding over a meeting of the government's Central Disaster Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, Han Tizhu said that the requirement to wear masks outdoors will be fully lifted from September 26.

In the future, people who participate in outdoor gatherings of more than 50 people, such as sports events and music concerts, will no longer need to wear masks.

South Korea has stopped requiring the public to wear masks outdoors since May, but in crowded situations, such as when attending gatherings or events with more than 50 people, masks are required.

South Korea's new crown pneumonia epidemic: The picture shows people visiting the Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul on the day of Chuseok (South Korea's Mid-Autumn Festival).

It can be seen from the photos that a small number of tourists are not wearing masks.

(AP)

South Korea's Central Epidemic Prevention and Control Headquarters said on September 20 that it is discussing whether to lift or relax the entry epidemic prevention policy implemented in response to the epidemic.

Lin Shuying, the general head of the situation of the Central Epidemic Prevention Countermeasures Headquarters, said at a regular press conference that the current epidemic prevention policy requires people entering the country to undergo screening within one day of entry, but the domestic epidemic situation has clearly stabilized, and the epidemic prevention department is comprehensively considering whether to further relax epidemic prevention. , including the requirement to accept nucleic acid testing within 1 day of entry.

Zheng Qishuo, chairman of South Korea's National Infectious Disease Crisis Response Advisory Committee, said on September 16 that daily activities around the world will return to normal in about 6 months, and South Korea must start discussions to convert the current emergency epidemic prevention mechanism into a daily epidemic prevention mechanism.

Free travel in Japan | Hotels around the world are eagerly looking forward to the closure of tourists if they do not come again. South Korea researches and relaxes epidemic prevention and plans to completely lift the outdoor mask wearing order + inspection obligation within 1 day of entry. Thailand free travel | Prove the epidemic | WHO: seeing the end does not mean the end has been reached The epidemic is not over yet

Source: hk1

All news articles on 2022-09-23

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