• Home
• Travel News
• Tourism News

Japan to close borders in response to new Covid-19 variant

• 14 hours ago

Authorities in Japan have confirmed the destination will bar entry to visitors from around the world as fears over a new Covid-19 variant grow.

The decision comes just weeks after the country softened entry rules, largely in place since the outbreak of the pandemic last spring.

“We will ban the new entry of foreigners from around the world starting from November 30th,” Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida said.

Omicron, the new variant of the coronavirus, was spotted in South Africa last week.

In response, Japan tightened entry restrictions for people arriving from South Africa and eight other countries in the region over the weekend.

ADVERTISEMENT

googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display("gAd-300x250-3");});

Guests are currently required to undergo a ten-day quarantine at government-designated facilities.

Britain and a number of other destinations have also banned travel from a number of destinations in southern Africa.

The new announcement means Japan will restore border controls it eased earlier this month for short-term business visitors, foreign students and workers.

The country has recorded just over 18,300 coronavirus deaths during the pandemic but has avoided tough lockdowns.

About 76.5 per cent of the population is now fully inoculated, despite a slow start.

Little is known about the new Covid-19 strain, including whether it is more contagious, more likely to cause serious illness or more able to evade the protection of vaccines.

However, that has not stopped countries from Israel to Morocco, Switzerland and Singapore from rushing to act.

Older Vietnam Airlines arrives in United States for first time Newer South Africa calls for travel bans to be scrapped Tagged With: japan tourism Share On: LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Email more Comments (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = 'https://connect.facebook.net/en_GB/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v3.0&appId=513546488713861'; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); Subscribe

Subscribe to our daily newsletter to keep up to date with the latest headlines from the global hospitality sector.

Recommended Breaking Travel News interview: Jean-Marc Mocellin, chief executive, Tahiti Tourisme 9 hours ago Johnson confirms UK arrivals will require PCR test 12 hours ago Sophia Loren names MSC Virtuosa in Dubai 19 hours ago South Africa leads red list additions as new Covid-19 variant identified 4 days ago Moscow outlines bid to host Expo 2030 5 days ago Anantara New York Palace Budapest to open in the spring 6 days ago New Zealand to reopen to tourists in April 6 days ago Breaking Travel News investigates: Radisson RED London Heathrow 6 days ago Related Articles Six Senses set for Japan debut with Kyoto property 16 November 2021 FCM signs partnership to enter Japan 2 September 2021 Local fans permitted to attend Tokyo Olympics 21 June 2021 Rosewood Hotels signs for first Japan property 23 April 2021 Niccolo Suzhou to open in China next month 23 March 2021 International visitors barred from Tokyo Olympics 22 March 2021 W Osaka takes brand into Japan for first time 16 March 2021 Higashiyama Niseko Village joins Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Japan 18 December 2020