Economics

Olympics Barring of Foreign Fans Seen Worth Economic Hit

  • Action to ensure Games are staged viewed as more important
  • Impact could reach $5.5 billion, Bloomberg Economics says
Photographer: Toru Hanai/Bloomberg
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The economic hit from excluding foreign spectators from attending the Tokyo Olympic Games is a price worth paying if it means the event can take place this year, according to economists.

The likely impact on the world’s third-largest economy of Saturday’s decision to bar spectators from overseas could reach 600 billion yen ($5.5 billion) after the ripple effects of weakening future interest in visiting Japan is factored in, said Yuki Masujima, economist at Bloomberg Economics.