FOCUS: Japan eases COVID-19 border controls but tourist influx questionable

Japan’s eased border measures from Wednesday, including raising a daily cap on arrivals from 20,000 to 50,000, will not result in a surge of tourists to pull its economy unless they do enjoy greater freedom to travel within the country, according to industry officials. They say tourists will continue to bypass Japan for friendlier countries despite a cheap yen as the government’s decision to lower the entry bar remains restrictive, hampered by its continued caution in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said at a press conference last week that he wants Japan to “join the…