Short-staffed host 03-01-2023 Japan Update

TOKYO -- With the government easing COVID-19 entry restrictions for travelers from China, new arrivals are putting even more pressure on a shorthanded tourism sector.   Blanket testing has been replaced with random testing of up to 20% of air passengers, and more flights can serve major airports.   Japanese businesses had already been struggling to keep up with the rebound in travel after a previous easing of entry curbs months ago. Of 10,000-plus inns and hotels surveyed by Teikoku Databank in January, 77.8% said they did not have enough full-time employees, while 81.1% said they did not have enough part-time and other irregular-hour workers.   Read the full story here.	View in browser
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	Japan Update March 1, 2023

	Japan opens up to Chinese tourists, but can it handle the rush? TOKYO -- With the government easing COVID-19 entry restrictions for travelers from China, new arrivals are putting even more pressure on a shorthanded tourism sector.   Blanket testing has been replaced with random testing of up to 20% of air passengers, and more flights can serve major airports.   Japanese businesses had already been struggling to keep up with the rebound in travel after a previous easing of entry curbs months ago. Of 10,000-plus inns and hotels surveyed by Teikoku Databank in January, 77.8% said they did not have enough full-time employees, while 81.1% said they did not have enough part-time and other irregular-hour workers.   Read the full story here.
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