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Japan to reopen to independent travelers and lift

ameliorate — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 11:19:21 +0800

Domo Arigato Kishida san!

Japan to reopen to independent travelers and lift daily arrival cap, Kishida says

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks at a news conference in New York on Thursday. | POOL / VIA KYODO
BY KANAKO TAKAHARA
STAFF WRITER

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Sep 23, 2022

Japan will allow visa-free, independent tourism and abolish a daily arrival cap as of Oct. 11, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Thursday, marking a major policy shift after nearly 2½ years of strict COVID-19 restrictions.

The government will also launch a nationwide travel discount program, which had been shelved due to the spread of COVID-19 infections.

Kishida made the long-awaited announcement during his visit to New York for the U.N. General Assembly.

“I hope many people will utilize it,” Kishida said at a news conference. “I want to support the travel, entertainment and other industries that have been struggling during the coronavirus pandemic.”

Japan has been allowing tourists since June, starting with people on guided tours. On Sept. 7, the government allowed those on nonguided tours who had booked their flights and hotels through registered travel agencies.

But those measures have been unpopular with many foreign tourists who want greater freedom during their trips.

Tourists will need to be vaccinated three times or submit a negative COVID-19 test result ahead of their trip, Kyodo News reported, citing government sources.

A nationwide domestic travel program offering discounts for travel, entry to theme parks, and for sporting events and concerts is also set to start on Oct. 11. People who have been vaccinated three times or submit a negative test result will be eligible for the discounts, according to the report.

The program offers financial assistance of up to ¥11,000 ($77) per person for a one-night stay.

The moves will be welcomed by the nation’s tourism sector, which has been hit hard by the pandemic.

Travel agencies have been urging the government to waive the visa requirement for tourists, which has been a major hurdle for those wishing to come to Japan. In some cases, prospective tourists had to submit their visa application in person to the nearest embassy or consulate, while others did not get their visas in time for their travel plans.

In 2019, a record 31.88 million foreign travelers visited Japan, but the figure plummeted to about 250,000 in 2021 due to the closed borders.

The daily arrival cap has been raised gradually over the past six months, first to 5,000 on March 1 and eventually to the current 50,000.

Timeline of Japan’s COVID-19 border restrictions
Jan. 31, 2020: Japan bans the entry of foreign nationals arriving from China’s Hubei province, the first entry ban imposed due to the coronavirus. The ban was gradually expanded to 24 countries through the end of March.

April 1: Less than a month after the spread of COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, Japan halts entries into the country by foreign nationals, including foreign residents of Japan, from 49 countries, including the U.S., the U.K. and South Korea, bringing the total number up to 73 nations.

May 14: Japan expands its entry ban to cover a total of 100 countries and regions.

Aug. 28: The entry ban is expanded further to cover 159 countries and regions.

Sept. 1: Japan lifts ban on re-entry of foreign residents.

Oct. 1: Japan lifts its ban on entry by foreign nationals planning to relocate to the country.

Dec. 28: Japan again implements a ban on the entry of nonresident foreign nationals.

Jan. 14, 2021: Japan suspends a business-track travel program with some countries and mandates that all people arriving in the country quarantine at home for 14 days.

Nov. 8: Japan opens its borders to foreign students, interns and other business travelers.

Nov. 30: Japan bans the entry of nonresident foreign nationals after the discovery of the highly contagious omicron variant.

March 1, 2022: Japan allows foreign nationals arriving for purposes other than tourism to enter the country.

June 1: Japan raises daily arrival cap to 20,000.

June 10: Japan allows entry of foreign tourists on guided tours.

Sept. 7: Pre-arrival PCR tests are dropped for travelers who have received three shots of an approved COVID-19 vaccine. Japan also raises the daily arrival cap to 50,000 and allows entry of foreign tourists on nonguided tours.

Oct. 11: Japan to allow entry of visa-free independent tourists and abolish the daily arrival cap.

sos

Was LKY the greatest nation builder ever?

ameliorate — Wed, 13 Apr 2022 16:08:00 +0800

If you have time, watch all the way to the end. The longer time passes, the more evident the genius of LKY as a master builder. He got kecam like shit when he was in power by the westerners, now they look on in envy. We can learn so much from him on what it takes to govern a country. Instead we have stupid slogans like bossku or keluarga malaysia.

Who in Malaysia got such caliber?

[YOUTUBE]pCEYJFpwydw[/YOUTUBE]

US sphere of influence

ameliorate — Sun, 20 Mar 2022 22:54:48 +0800

They know about the issue of NATO expansion east ward more than 10 years ago but did nothing.

I'm quite neutral, I don't want any wars but the west have to understand to stop poking the bear. One day the bear will snap.

[YOUTUBE]mciLyG9iexE[/YOUTUBE]

Does sanctions work to resolve issues?

ameliorate — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 15:20:02 +0800

[YOUTUBE]BfKF7VRnLos[/YOUTUBE]

Carrot vs stick. Which one more effective?

Free 2022 Calendar

ameliorate — Wed, 08 Dec 2021 17:56:32 +0800

Where to get free 2022 table calendar? This year seems very little company print, all cut cost.

I only know MR DIY is purchase above RM50 got. Sharing is caring ma.

What happened to Douglas Lim?

ameliorate — Sun, 12 Sep 2021 23:45:01 +0800

After PN 2.0 gov, no more parody video. Is he a clandestine hired gun to bring down Moodin?

Rindu zaman #cucukmyaz

Civil service rot began during Dr M’s first stint

ameliorate — Mon, 06 Sep 2021 14:49:09 +0800

Civil servants was very respected back in the days before Thanos.

Sos:

https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/...ys-ex-diplomat/

PETALING JAYA: The rot in the civil service began during Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s first stint as prime minister and it has since become a “bloated and increasingly corrupt” entity, a former diplomat said.

In his new book, Paradise Lost: Mahathir & The End of Hope, Dennis Ignatius claimed the former prime minister disdained the idea of independent-minded officials who provided apolitical service.

He alleged that Mahathir craved a more subservient bureaucracy that was “ready to do his bidding” and those who got in his way were removed.

Blind loyalty, he noted, became the most important requirement for career advancement.

Ignatius said Mahathir’s successors continued with such a policy.

“The cumulative result is plain to see – a bloated and increasingly corrupt civil service that has lost its professionalism and competence.

“Instead of servicing the nation, the nation now exists to service the civil service,” he wrote.

Politicians from Pakatan Harapan, he went on to say, were fully aware of the rot in the civil service and urgency for reform but it seemed they had neither the will nor wisdom to make changes.

Ignatius said reforming the bureaucracy had become an “almost impossible endeavour”.

For one, the government had become the employer of last resort for those unable to compete for jobs in the private sector.

“Without the civil service to absorb them, the government would face explosive levels of discontent,” he said.

Like it or not, reducing the size of the bureaucracy was “not an option”.

Secondly, he said, politicians were hesitant about confronting the bureaucracy as it represented an important vote bank.

“Placating the bureaucracy no matter how incompetent or corrupt it might be is simply a political imperative.”

Ignatius’s book, which will be launched on Sept 9, is available for pre-order. It retails for RM60.

China man kena dupe by auntie pretending to be

ameliorate — Sun, 29 Aug 2021 21:31:20 +0800

https://mothership.sg/2021/08/china-online-...1Svicxb4HryAqUE

Man in China, 28, realises online girlfriend's 'aunt' living with him for 3 years is actually his girlfriend

OMG

Should Abah resign?

ameliorate — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 19:06:54 +0800

Everyone wants him to resign but I don't think he should.

His government is already the most hated in history of Malaysia. We need a common enemy to rally against for ge15.

If he resign now, the status quo may not change. If the opposition force ge15 now then we are in deeper shit from cobis.

I say continue to pressure him, let him laosai few more times. When ge15 in 2 more years, all rakyat will so angry, one shot kick bersatu, pas and umno out. Rather than now all play number game.

Most affected people in lockdown

ameliorate — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 15:51:46 +0800

1 year of school life gone. Especially the younger ones, school is very important. I foresee a lot of school drop out in future. School need to reopen asap. Our country's future is at stake.

I notice during MCO, do a lot of DIY

ameliorate — Tue, 01 Jun 2021 00:37:03 +0800

When have a lot of free time, look for things to do. Recently my phone battery drain very fast, in the old days, I will send it for repair or buy a new phone. Now I just fix it myself. Buy the battery in shopee and go youtube to learn how to replace.

Many other things I start DIY as well, my laptop, car, plumbing, electrical switch, gaming console etc. The parts are cheap, you just need to follow youtube to do it. It's not difficult as long as you have the right tools. I even started to service aircon. The cleaner and tools cost less than RM50 but you call someone to do it, minimum RM150.

This covid thing really make repairman to go extinct.