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(Recast with PM Kishida).
TOKYO, Aug 24 (Reuters) – Japan will waive PRE-departure COVID-19 testing for vaccinated travelers to the country, but access limits will be maintained, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Wednesday.
The testing requirement will be lifted from Sept. 7, Kishida said. A resolution has yet to be made on an announced plan to increase the limit of inbound travelers from 20,000 to 50,000, he added.
“We will gradually continue with those measures,” said Kishida, who spoke to reporters online as she recovered from COVID at her official residence.
Japan has maintained some of the strict anti-pandemic border measures between major economies, requiring travelers to submit a negative coronavirus test within 72 hours prior to departure.
Kishida said in May that he sought to align Japan’s border measures with those of other Group of Seven countries.
In June, Japan opened up to tourists for the first time in two years, but visa application and compliance with guided tour packages reduced the actual number of incoming visitors.
(Reporting via Rocky Swift and Elaine Lies; Editing via Tom Hogue and Shri Navaratnam)