訪日客受け入れ、月内に実証事業　少人数ツアー形式で―斉藤国交相

　斉藤鉄夫国土交通相は１７日の閣議後記者会見で、新型コロナウイルスの水際対策のため認めていない外国人観光客の受け入れ再開に向け、５月中に実証事業を実施すると発表した。日本の旅行会社が行動管理する少人数のパッケージツアー形式とする。６月上旬に行う方向で検討していたが、前倒しすることにした。
　観光庁によると、米国、オーストラリア、タイ、シンガポールの４カ国からの観光客が対象。ワクチン３回目接種を終えていることを参加の条件とする。緊急事態宣言などが発令されておらず、都道府県が受け入れに同意した地域のみで行う方針。旅行会社の添乗員が同行する。（2022/05/17-12:43）

The Japanese government will conduct a test this month to see if the country is able to accept foreign tourists safely amid the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism minister Tetsuo Saito said Tuesday.
   Foreign tourists are currently not allowed to enter Japan due to the country's COVID-19 border controls. In the test, foreign tourists in small groups of package tours will be accepted.
   Tourists from the United States, Australia, Thailand and Singapore vaccinated with a third COVID-19 dose will be able to participate in the package tours, which will be strictly controlled by Japanese travel agencies and accompanied by tour conductors.
   They will be allowed to only visit areas where prefectural governments concerned agree to accept them and which are not covered by COVID-19 restrictions such as a state of emergency.
   Through the test, the government will see whether infection prevention measures for group package tours are effective. Participants will be asked to wear face masks and sanitize their hands thoroughly.