Japan began allowing Taiwan nationals who have received three vaccine doses to visit as independent travelers on Oct. 11. However, Taiwan's domestic Medigen vaccine is not on the list of accepted vaccines. One company launched a trip package to Tokyo that includes a PCR test.
Oct. 11 was the first day that Taiwan nationals who have received three vaccine doses could visit Japan as independent travelers. Taoyuan International Airport was packed with people flying to Japan, exchanging NT dollars for yen, and taking out insurance. All of them were excited to start traveling again.
Tourist: “It feels like I haven't been out of the country forever, so I'm really excited. I started making plans as soon as they made the announcement.”
Tourist: “It took only a week to make all the plans. (Do you have any concerns?) Not really, I got three shots and I'll wear my mask. It's not much different than being in Taiwan.”
According to National Immigration Agency statistics, 6,831 people departed Taoyuan International Airport on Oct. 11, including 1,177, or 17.2 percent, headed for Japan. Meanwhile, 403 people traveled to Japan via Taipei Songshan Airport for a total of 1,580 travelers to Japan. Japan requires inbound Taiwan nationals to have received three vaccine doses for entry. However, Taiwan's domestic Medigen vaccine is not on the list of accepted vaccines. One company launched a five-day, four-night trip package to Tokyo that includes a PCR test worth NT$3,500.
Li Chih-yueh, Chairperson, DoMo: “Nearly one million people got the Medigen vaccine, and the majority are young people who are our targets for independent travel to Tokyo.”
Japan has reopened its borders. It is welcoming back independent travelers and offering visa-free entry. It has also canceled the daily arrivals cap. Travelers are reminded to take out travel health insurance.
日本自由行解禁首日，桃園機場出境大廳報到櫃檯、匯兌櫃檯、保險櫃台，一早擠滿了人潮，許多旅客搶在第1波開放，前往日本自由行，個個心情都很興奮期待。
旅客說：「就算是很久沒出國的感覺，所以就很期待呀，一公布就規劃了。」
也有旅客不擔心疫情：「還好，因為都有打疫苗呀，把口罩戴著，心情就跟在台灣差不多吧。」
根據移民署11日預報統計，桃園機場出境6831人，前往日本旅客1177位，占了17.2%。另外，松山機場也有403位出發到日本，共1580位旅客飛往日本。針對打滿3劑疫苗就可以到日本自由行，但國產高端不在許可名單內，就有旅宿業推出11月底前預訂東京5天4夜旅宿方案，全額負擔3500元PCR費用，搶攻旅遊市場。
DoMo集團董事長李奇嶽指出：「將近有100萬高端的施打民眾，他們這個族群大部分都比較年輕，適合東京自由行的目標群眾。」
歷經2年多的邊境管制後，日本終於重新開放自由行與免簽證入境，也取消每日入境人數上限，讓旅遊業感到振奮。但也提醒到國外旅遊的旅客，記得針對確診醫療部分投保旅遊健康保險，否則在海外染疫，醫療負擔也相當高額。