With Japan dropping its emergency COVID-19 restrictions next week, visitors from the country could start to return to Hawaii en masse as soon as next month.
Japanese officials on Wednesday announced that on March 21 the nation would lift pandemic restrictions in 18 of the country’s prefectures, including Tokyo, as COVID case numbers decline.
While those restrictions do not directly involve tourism, Ross Birch, executive director for the Island of Hawaii Visitors Bureau, said that based on discussions with Hawaii Tourism Japan, he expects the country will start to lift travel restrictions for its citizens as early as next month.
In particular, Birch said he expects Japan within a couple of months will remove or provide exceptions to quarantine requirements for residents returning from overseas. Currently, all arrivals to Japan are required to self-quarantine for seven days.
“The (United States) travel requirements are still in place, but from what we’ve seen, that’s not as much of a big deal for travelers,” Birch said.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requires international travelers to the U.S. to submit proof of vaccination, proof of a booster shot, and results of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 24 hours of departure.
While rigid, these requirements are far more easy to accommodate for casual travelers than a mandatory weeklong post-trip quarantine, and Birch said the state expects an influx of Japanese tourists going into summer.
“We’re thinking we might see a return to Japan-Kona flights by the end of April,” Birch said.
An online survey conducted by Hawaii Tourism Japan in December polled Japanese residents about where they wanted to travel most after the pandemic ends. Of nearly 15,000 responses, 64% said Hawaii was their most anticipated destination.
Other major foreign tourism markets also are lifting their travel restrictions.
Earlier this month, the South Korean government announced that starting March 21, travelers who have been fully vaccinated in Korea will be exempt from quarantine requirements, while those who were vaccinated overseas and register their status with a national travel program can avoid a quarantine on arrival beginning April 1.
Canada, whose residents have been allowed to return without quarantining under certain circumstances for some time, announced this week that beginning April 1 all travelers will no longer have to submit a negative preflight COVID-19 test.
And Australia in February allowed all fully vaccinated visa holders to travel to the country and be eligible for modified quarantine requirements.
“This is good news. We’re definitely excited,” Birch said. “From what we’re hearing, they’re excited (in Japan), too. They’re ready to go.”
Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com.