Japan to Suspend Travel Incentives Nationwide as Virus Spreads
- Prime Minister Suga halts program from Dec. 28 to Jan. 11
- Record of more than 3,000 Japan cases reported Saturday
Gora station in Hakone as the ‘Go To’ campaign started, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.
Photographer: Noriko Hayashi/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga suspended his signature domestic travel incentive system nationwide for two weeks over the New Year holidays amid record coronavirus infections and a slide in support for his cabinet.
The government will halt all use of “Go To” travel incentives from Dec. 28 to Jan. 11, Suga said Monday. The unexpectedly broad suspension will cover what is usually one of the busiest travel periods of the year, when people head to family gatherings across the country. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike in a separate briefing requested restaurants and bars to continue with shortened hours also until Jan. 11.