"Go To Travel" For departures and arrivals in Tokyo from today

"Go To Travel" From today to / from Tokyo at 5:41 on October 1st

"Go To Travel", a measure to stimulate tourism demand, will be added to travel to and from Tokyo from the 1st.

While it is expected to have the effect of further boosting the tourism industry, which has been severely hit by the new coronavirus, thorough infection prevention measures will be required again.

"Go To Travel" is a measure to stimulate tourism demand that allows you to receive subsidies of up to 20,000 yen per night in the form of discounts on travel prices and coupons that can be used at tourist facilities and souvenir shops.

In July, the discount on the travel price started, but the trip to Tokyo, which was excluded due to the increase in infected people, and the trip of people living in Tokyo are also applied from the 1st. Will be the target of.

On the other hand, coupons that can be used at tourist facilities, souvenir shops, restaurants, transportation, etc. will be available at registered facilities nationwide from the 1st.

With the addition of travel to and from Tokyo to "Go To Travel" and the start of new coupon issuance, it is expected that the effect of boosting the tourism industry will be further enhanced, but thorough measures to prevent infection with the new coronavirus are a business. Both the person and the traveler will be asked again.

Details and precautions of the system

"Go To Travel" is a system that subsidizes travel costs up to 20,000 yen per night.

Of the travel price paid to registered accommodations and travel agencies, 35% will be discounted, and coupons that can be used at tourist facilities and souvenir shops will be issued for 15% of the travel price.

For example, if the travel price is 40,000 yen per night,

▽ 14,000 yen, which is 35% of the travel price, is discounted, and

▽ coupon can be used for 6000 yen, which is 15%.

Travel products to and from Tokyo began to be sold by travel agencies on September 18th, reflecting discounted prices.

For those who booked before the 18th, in order to be eligible for the discount, you must apply to the operator yourself before going on a trip.

What is a coupon?

In addition, coupons can now be used at tourist facilities, souvenir shops, restaurants and transportation that have been registered since the 1st.

The coupon is valid for the duration of the trip, for example, in the case of 1 night 2 days, the day you stay and the next day.

Coupons can only be used at accommodation facilities or in neighboring prefectures.

Of these,

▽ Aomori prefecture in Hokkaido and

Kagoshima prefecture in ▽ Okinawa prefecture are eligible, and special stickers and posters will be posted at stores where coupons can be used.

Coupons are issued in the form of paper as gift certificates or electronic coupons using smartphones in units of 1000 yen, and if you use them for shopping, you will not receive any change.

The additional economic effect of Tokyo

Regarding the economic effect of adding travel to and from Tokyo to the target of "Go To Travel," there are estimates and trial calculations that will boost personal consumption by 770 billion yen.

First of all, it has the effect of about 14 million Tokyo residents, who exceed 10% of the national population, visiting tourist destinations all over the country.

Furthermore, the total number of people who stayed at hotels and inns in Tokyo last year was 49.63 million, excluding foreign tourists, accounting for 10% of the total number of guests nationwide, and the number of people visiting Tokyo is expected to increase. It will be.

As the number of tourists increases, not only accommodation and tourism facilities, but also transportation and restaurants will increase.

Nomura Research Institute estimates that the economic effect of adding travel to and from Tokyo to the target of "Go To Travel" will boost personal consumption by 770 billion yen.

This is expected to account for 17.8% of 4.3 trillion yen, which is the expected boosting effect of personal consumption in the entire business.

What if the infection spreads again?

If there are areas where the infection will spread again in the future, the government will consider excluding it from "Go To Travel" based on the opinions of experts.

At this time, consideration is given so that no cancellation fee will be incurred even if the traveler cancels the reservation.

Specifically, we urge the business operator not to charge a cancellation fee, and if the business operator suffers damage, we will cover it from the project cost of "Go To Travel".

For example,

▽ the cost of the ingredients purchased at the accommodation facility,

▽ the fee for arranging the airline ticket for the travel agency, etc., will cover the amount equivalent to the actual damage. I will.

Background and number of target businesses

"Go To Travel" is a business that supports tourism-related fields among the "Go To Campaign" that stimulates consumption that has fallen due to the effects of the new coronavirus.

You can receive up to 20,000 yen per night by discounting the travel price and issuing coupons that can be used at tourist facilities, souvenir shops, restaurants and transportation.

Of these, the discount on travel prices began on July 22, but as the number of infected people began to increase again in Tokyo, the government immediately before the start of travel to Tokyo and those living in Tokyo. Excluded from travel.

Along with this, the government initially stated that it would not compensate for the cancellation fee if the trip was canceled, but the day before the start of the business, there was confusion such as showing a policy of compensating for it.

Then, on September 10, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's "Monitoring Conference", which analyzes and evaluates the infection status of the new coronavirus, lowered the level of alertness for the infection status by one level from the most serious expression that has continued for about two months. ..

In response to this, on September 11th, the following day, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Akabane announced a policy to add to Tokyo from October 1st.

According to the Japan Tourism Agency, the total number of users of the campaign is at least 13.39 million as of the end of August.

In addition, the number of businesses that are eligible for discounts is

▽ travel agencies, which exceeds 60% of the total, more than 6,500,

▽ accommodation businesses, which account for nearly 70% of the total, more than

23,800

, and

▽ businesses that can use coupons. There are about 100,000 people.

Governor Koike, Tokyo "Balancing socio-economic activities and infection prevention measures"

Regarding the addition of trips to and from Tokyo to the target of "Go To Travel," Governor Koike of Tokyo told reporters, "There are various movements of people, and it is expected that there will be more movements in the future, but infection. I would like to ask you again to make sure that you do not do it or not. It is not "there is a mask for close friends", but it is not okay because you are close. Hand wash, wear a mask, do not make a loud voice, separate meal plates I would like you to keep that in mind and try to balance socio-economic activities and infection prevention measures. "

Expectations for Tokyo as a tourist destination in Kyoto

Hotels and inns in Kyoto are squeezing out ideas to attract guests from Tokyo.

Of these, the inn in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City has decided to rent one room free of charge for one month to those who tell the charm of the inn and the surrounding tourist spots on SNS.

As a result of the selection, Aya Yoshikawa of Kobe City, who was selected, has been actively disseminating travel photos on Instagram.

Mr. Yoshikawa took a walk around the inn, such as Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Yasaka Tower, with his friends, and took pictures of the so-called “instagram” scenery.

Mr. Yoshikawa said, "I would like to visit this frequently during this period to master Kyoto. There are also foreigners in my followers, so I hope that people will want to come to Japan by looking at the pictures." ..

Seiji Sano, managing director of this ryokan, said, "We have received about 60 reservations until the end of the year in the past week. We hope that you will think about going to Kyoto by sending them on SNS." Was there.

In addition, the same hotel in Higashiyama Ward has started a "Tokyo citizen-only plan" targeting tourists from Tokyo.

The plan, which usually costs 17,160 yen per person with two meals per night, is discounted by 30% only for Tokyo residents.

From here, you can get an additional 35% discount by using "Go To Travel", so people in Tokyo can use it for 7,800 yen.

The occupancy rate of this hotel was 40% in August due to the effect of "Go To Travel", which is about 10% better than in June and July, but the management is still difficult.

Ryoichi Yoshida, Deputy Manager of the hotel, said, "It is necessary to raise the occupancy rate and secure employment of employees. It is not easy to make a profit because it is a big discount, but I came to Kyoto using the new plan. I would like you to do it. "

On the other hand, many people living in Kyoto are worried that the infection will spread again as the number of tourists increases.

The Kyoto City Tourism Association has set up a website for tourists to encourage them to check their physical condition before traveling and plan trips to avoid congestion.

▽ If you have a fever during your trip, consult a dedicated telephone counter. I am calling.

Akiko Saga, the director of the Kyoto City Tourism Association, said, "Of course, we on the receiving side will take proper measures, but at this time, we will prepare and take measures in advance for tourists so that the infection will not spread throughout the trip. I want you to do it. "