New measures in Japan against COVID-19 & 2019 Statistics

Japan’s government has adopted new measures concerning entry restrictions, as part of its fight against the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

On 24th March, the list of restrictions was updated, suspending travel of foreigners to Japan from the following areas: China, South Korea, Iran, Egypt and 18 countries in Europe – Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland and the Vatican.

For countries concerned by this entry ban, visas delivered by the Embassy of Japan or consulates are suspended. More information on the website of the Embassy of Japan in Belgium: https://www.be.emb-japan.go.jp/itprtop_en/index.html

In this context, the Paris office of the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) remains active nonetheless and maintains, as much as the situation allows, its collaboration with the professionals of tourism – leisure and MICE.

JNTO’s statistics regarding 2019, published on 19th March, reveal that 31 882 049 visitors came to Japan last year, marking a progression of 2.2% compared to 2018, and setting a new record in visitor numbers. Visits from Belgium, France and Switzerland all increased, reaching 39,245 (+14.1%), 336,333 (+10.3%) and 53,908 (+3.5%) visitors respectively. Preliminary data for January and February 2020 at the global level reports a decrease in visitors by 29.2% compared to the previous year.

“Today, like always, our office continues to listen and to support the leisure tourism and MICE professionals. We will keep providing information from the field to our collaborators, and we will be here to help them resume their activities in Japan, once the period is more favourable”, assures Mr Murakami, Executive Director of JNTO’s Paris office.