Japan dispels reports that it will subsidise trips for foreign tourists

Media reports began circulating earlier this month that Japan will launch a campaign that will involve paying for half of foreign tourists’ trips to the country in an effort to boost tourism once lockdown restrictions ease in the country.

The report, which was picked up by a number of international news outlets, suggested that Japan will launch a $12.5 billion plan to attract foreigners once the Covid-19 pandemic is under control in the country, in July the earliest.

The Japan Tourism Agency on Wednesday dismissed these reports in a series of tweets posted on its official twitter account in both Japanese and English.

The government agency clarified in its tweets that the Go To Travel subsidy program, which it said is still under consideration, would only cover a portion of domestic travel expenses.

According to a report from AFP, Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism published a statement in Japanese on May 27, 2020 saying that “incorrect information” had been published by the media about the proposed Go To Travel plan.

“To speak accurately, the Go To Travel campaign is being considered by the Japanese government to revive domestic travel within Japan by providing Japanese residents support for costs associated with accommodation and travel,” reads the government statement (translated from Japanese) according to AFP.