Tokyo Olympics https://dev.traveldailymedia.com/tag/tokyo-olympics/ Informing, connecting and developing the world’s travel industry professionals. Sat, 17 Dec 2022 07:12:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 COVID, sustainability take centre stage in Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony https://dev.traveldailymedia.com/covid-sustainability-take-centre-stage-in-tokyo-olympics-opening-ceremony/ Mon, 26 Jul 2021 00:43:30 +0000 https://www.traveldailymedia.com/?p=674342 The post COVID, sustainability take centre stage in Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Brand TD.

The current Olympic Games is extra special as it highlighted the ongoing COVID pandemic and sustainability.

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Since former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe emerged as Super Mario at the closing ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympics, people have anticipated the Tokyo 2020 (2021) Olympics. After months of going back and forth on the rules and safety protocols, the sporting event kicked off last Friday with a spectacular opening ceremony and parade of nations.

However, the current Olympic Games is extra special as it highlighted the ongoing COVID pandemic and sustainability.

COVID pandemic

Despite the doubts and protests, the Olympic Games head on sans fans and spectators due to the ongoing state of emergency in Tokyo. The COVID pandemic has an overwhelming presence in the opening ceremony as athletes, organisers and attendees were all wearing masks and practised physical distancing.

One of the performances showed the effect of the health crisis on the athletes and sporting events when a lone runner on the treadmill depicted athletes training in isolation with the uncertainty of whether the games will push through. Some competitors were unable to participate in the games as they tested positive to the virus, while some athletes bowed out of the competition due to fear of infection.

A moment of silence was also observed for the departed and a nurse and a doctor are among the flag and torch bearers recognising their role in the pandemic and holding the games safely.

Sustainability

The Tokyo Olympics also champions sustainability proving that we can hold “greener” sporting events. The torches and cauldron are powered by hydrogen, which produces no carbon emissions. The torches were made in recycled aluminium and the medals are made from recycled electronics.

The beds in the Olympic Village, which many had made fun of online as anti-sex bed, were made of cardboard, which will be recycled after the Olympics. Even the foams will be recycled into plastic products, according to the committee.

 

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Tokyo Tourist Information Centres ready to welcome foreign travellers https://dev.traveldailymedia.com/tokyo-tourist-information-centres-ready-to-welcome-foreign-travellers/ Fri, 23 Jul 2021 05:48:45 +0000 https://www.traveldailymedia.com/?p=674254 The post Tokyo Tourist Information Centres ready to welcome foreign travellers appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Brand TD.

Tourist information centres inside and outside the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics venues have worked long and hard to prepare for the event and are now welcoming foreign guests

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Tourist information centres inside and outside the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics venues have worked long and hard to prepare for the event and are now welcoming foreign guests.

Village Plaza, a brand-new facility built to host the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics athletes, opened on 13 July in Harumi, Tokyo. To support the life of the athletes and supporting staff during their stay, Village Plaza provides many services such as an internet lounge, café, and post office. Here also is Tokyo City Information, a tourist information center where the smiling staff, all of whom are expert guides of Tokyo tourism, welcome guests and introduce them to Tokyo.

“We know this is a very important time for athletes and other people who stay here,” said the staff, “so we will try to provide the best hospitality and do everything we can to make them feel at ease. And while it’s not possible for people to visit Tokyo freely at the moment, we will do our best to provide information about the charms and attractions of the city, so that when it becomes safe to travel again people might want to come back.”

Among the special projects to promote future travel to Tokyo is an origami in the shape of Mt. Fuji containing a collection of QR codes of websites that provide a variety of information about Tokyo. Along with the Tokyo City Information facility, they are distributed in two other temporary information centres in Tokyo. The hope is that people will take them home as a souvenir until the next time they visit Japan.

The five Tokyo Tourist Information centres operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government have completed their preparations for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. While the number of people visiting the facility has greatly decreased since the spreading of COVID-19, the staff continues to offer guidance and assistance to Japanese and foreign travellers.

The staff is also offering online assistance through the multilingual service ‘Online Tourist Guide’, where people can use their device to speak with a tourist guide expert that will answer their questions. The Online Tourist Guide is currently available in Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean. The information centre is also mindful of accessible tourism, offering special guidance, for example, to people with hearing disabilities and providing information about accessibility in Tokyo.

With the opening of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the priority of the Tokyo Tourist Information centres is to ensure that visitors have a safe stay by providing up-to-date information about places in Tokyo. In addition to this, dedicated spaces have been set up with Olympics-related materials and information.

For the safety of visitors, all Tokyo Tourist Information centres are implementing measures to prevent the spreading of COVID-19, such as hand sanitizing, social distance, air ventilation and mask use.

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Tokyo 2020 tourism legacy could create some positive impacts https://dev.traveldailymedia.com/tokyo-2020-tourism-legacy-could-create-some-positive-impacts/ Fri, 02 Jul 2021 00:21:37 +0000 https://www.traveldailymedia.com/?p=673076 The post Tokyo 2020 tourism legacy could create some positive impacts appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Brand TD.

Although some people are opposed to holding the Tokyo Olympics, the sporting event may have a positive impact on Japan’s tourism.

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Although some people are opposed to holding the Tokyo Olympics, the sporting event may have a positive impact on Japan’s tourism.

Ralph Hollister, travel and tourism analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The positive aspects of Tokyo 2020’s tourism legacy will offer no quick fix for the amount of investment that will be lost due to no international visitation and restricted domestic visitation. However, it offers benefits for Japan in the long-term, and will assist the nation by creating a more robust and varied tourism product for future years.”

New infrastructure will increase productivity, capacity, and attraction

Improved transport links for the Olympics, such as Tokyo’s new Yamanote Line Station, will reduce congestion for Japanese residents and help to improve the efficiency of domestic business travel going forward, creating an increase in the productive capacity of the Japanese economy.

Additionally, the expansion of Terminal 2 at Haneda Airport was partly done to create capacity for the surge of international visitation that would have been created by the Olympics. Terminal 2 was previously domestic only. However, it has had a portion of its terminal converted and expanded to accommodate international gates. In 2020, ANA unveiled three brand-new lounges as it moved most of its international operations to Terminal 2.

Hollister said: “This move from Japan’s largest airline shows how this expansion, which was done primarily for the Olympics, will benefit inbound tourism for years to come, adding greater capacity and brand-new lounges, which will increase tourism expenditure and improve touristic experiences.”

According to GlobalData, pre-pandemic domestic visitation levels in Japan are forecast to be retained by 2022, then growth is expected to increase at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6.3% from 2021 to 2024. Inbound visitation is expected to reach pre-pandemic levels by 2024, which is significantly later than domestic tourism. However, inbound arrivals will be likely to grow after 2024 and improved destination attraction, along with capacity, will be necessary to facilitate future growth from international markets. With these improvements already complete for the Olympics, Japan will be in a prime position to capture returning domestic, but more importantly, international demand after the Olympics has taken place.

World-class sporting facilities for future events

Japan made huge investments in improving or building various sporting facilities, which can be used in the future making the country a prime destination for sports tourism.

“Japan now has a range of modern, world-class sporting facilities in place to host future sporting events, which means that losses from the Olympics could be salvaged in the future. When bidding for future events, Japan’s case will now be strengthened with these new facilities. These bids could either be in the form of other high profile multi-sport events, or in the form of single sport events. Regardless of the type of sporting occasion, Japan can now position itself as a major destination for sport event tourism and sport participation tourism,” Hollister said.

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Tokyo Olympics to allow fans to watch the game, but there’s a catch https://dev.traveldailymedia.com/tokyo-olympics-to-allow-fans-to-watch-the-game-but-theres-a-catch/ Tue, 22 Jun 2021 01:02:37 +0000 https://www.traveldailymedia.com/?p=672490 The post Tokyo Olympics to allow fans to watch the game, but there’s a catch appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Brand TD.

The International Olympic Committee and Tokyo officials have confirmed that spectators will be allowed to watch the games.

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The International Olympic Committee and Tokyo officials have confirmed that spectators will be allowed to watch the games. Tokyo Olympics president Seiko Hashimoto called the latest decision “the last piece for the Olympics” to proceed on July 23.

Each event can have fans of 50% capacity, with a cap of 10,000 spectators. However, this announcement comes with several caveats, such as:

  • Only fans who live in Japan will be able to watch the events, according to New York Post. Japan’s borders have been closed to international tourists.
  • It will be a lottery to see who can attend. Organizing committee CEO Toshiro Muto said that 3.64 million tickets were sold to Japanese residents. He added that was about 900,000 more than the seats likely to be available, according to the report by The Asahi Shimbun.
  • The decision may be overturned if infections in Japan surge. “We need to be very flexible. If there is any abrupt change in the situation, we will hold five-party meetings again to make other decisions,” Hashimoto said. “If there is an announcement of a state of emergency during the Games, all the options like no-spectator games will be examined.”

The upcoming Tokyo Olympics has been a controversial topic in Japan as people have divided opinion on whether to hold the games a year after it was postponed. Japan has been grappling with several waves of COVID infection amid the slow roll-out of vaccines.

According to a survey conducted by a Japanese newspaper last May. 43% of Japanese people think that the Olympics should be cancelled, 40% said that it should be postponed again. Meanwhile, only 14% supported the games to go this summer.  The IOC and Japanese officials are adamant to hold the games.

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Here’s how Japan’s tourism sector will suffer if no fans allowed at Tokyo Olympics https://dev.traveldailymedia.com/heres-how-japans-tourism-sector-will-suffer-if-no-fans-allowed-at-tokyo-olympics/ Thu, 17 Jun 2021 00:34:05 +0000 https://www.traveldailymedia.com/?p=672271 The post Here’s how Japan’s tourism sector will suffer if no fans allowed at Tokyo Olympics appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Brand TD.

Here are the impacts no-crowd attendance would have on Japan’s lodging, airline, and retail industries.

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With the jury still out on whether domestic spectators will be allowed at Tokyo 2020, the prospect of a complete ban on attendance cannot be dismissed. This scenario would be disastrous for several tourism-related industries in Japan, according to GlobalData.

Ralph Hollister, travel and tourism analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The prospect of no attendance would take things from bad to worse for Japanese businesses involved in the tourism sector. The wait for the announcement on spectatorship with be agonizing for all businesses involved, as domestic attendance would at least allow for the recouping of some losses.”

Hollister offers his view on the impact no-crowd attendance would have on Japan’s lodging, airline, and retail industries:

Lodging – Bankruptcies could increase

“Many Japanese hotels were built and refurbished in time for Tokyo 2020. According to GlobalData, the number of hotels that opened in Japan between 2013 (the year that it was announced that Japan would host the Olympics) and 2019 increased by 9.1%, showcasing the investment that has occurred,” Hollister said.

However, many Japanese hotels closed in 2020, with Tokyo Shoko Research noting a 57.3% rise in the number of bankruptcies in Japan’s hotel industry from the previous year. Ralph notes that, this may have been avoided if the Olympics had taken place in 2020 due to the wave of tourism the Games would have created.

He added, “If the Games are played behind closed doors in 2021, hotel bankruptcies could well exceed 2020 levels, as many smaller businesses will not be able to deal with a second summer of rock-bottom occupancy rates. Additionally, the large hotels built to directly cater for the Olympics will remain empty, leaving stakeholders in the lurch with little return on investment.”

Airline – Industry heavyweights could suffer

“The one-year delay has added to the woes of major airlines operating in Japan, which originally anticipated fleets at full capacity over the summer of 2020.”

On 7 May, Japan Airlines posted an annual net loss of $2.6bn, and All Nippon Airways reported its worst ever annual loss of $3.7bn for 2020. With overseas spectators having already been barred from the event in 2021, the airlines’ most valuable customers are already out of the equation.

Hollister notes: “If domestic visitation is also banned, meaningful recovery will look like even less likely. Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways dominate both domestic and international routes. According to GlobalData, these two industry heavyweights controlled 48.7% of the Japanese airline market in 2019, which also means that they will have taken the most impact from the pandemic on top of the potential impact of no visitation for the Olympics.”

Retail – Return on investment could be little

Hollister states: “Many retailers in Tokyo would have been expecting a significant boost to revenues due to visitation created by the Olympics. Alike other industries involved in tourism, the retail sector has invested heavily in the build up to the Olympics. Many new concepts have been trialed to improve retail and touristic experiences for the Games, including mixed-use spaces that offer retail, food stands, coffee shops, art, cultural events and product launches.

“If no visitation is allowed, minimal returns will be seen on this kind of expenditure for the event, further forcing Japanese businesses into the red.”

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5 reasons why Japan and IOC insist on holding the Tokyo Olympics https://dev.traveldailymedia.com/reasons-japan-ioc-tokyo-olympics/ Wed, 26 May 2021 00:35:21 +0000 https://www.traveldailymedia.com/?p=671096 The post 5 reasons why Japan and IOC insist on holding the Tokyo Olympics appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Brand TD.

Japan is suffering another spike of COVID-19 infections that even the island paradise of Okinawa is under a state of emergency. The fourth wave, once again, raised concerns on the upcoming Tokyo Olympics.

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Japan is suffering another spike of COVID-19 infections that even the island paradise of Okinawa is under a state of emergency. The fourth wave, once again, raised concerns on the upcoming Tokyo Olympics.

According to Channel News Asia, the latest polls revealed that 60% and 80% want the games either cancelled or postponed, respectively. We’ve been here before and I recognised that tree, a year after its postponement, officials keep going back and forth on whether the Olympics will be held.

With less than two months on the clock, the latest statement from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said that the Olympics will push through even though Tokyo is under a state of emergency which caught the ire of some Japanese. However, cancelling the Tokyo Olympics is more than about safety concerns; it involves politics and TONS of money!

It’s in IOC’s hands

Legally, it is not up to Japan and the Tokyo government to cancel the Olympics. IOC owns the games and Japan is the host. IOC can only end the contract. But IOC president Thomas Bach said that the games will go ahead regardless of the fourth wave.

While Japan could break the contract and cancel the games, it is hesitant to do so because of the cost since everything has been prepared for the games and athletes, organisers, and suppliers are just waiting for the go signal.

Too much money has been invested

In 2019, all preparations have been set and Japan has been actively promoting the Olympics. Everyone is excited and is hoping for a return on their investment. Unfortunately, the COVID pandemic happened in 2020, months before the games.

According to an estimate conducted by professor emeritus Katsuhiro Miyamoto of Kansai University and reported by the NHK, the cost of delaying the 2020 Olympics by one year will be JPY640.8 billion (USD5.8 billion), taking maintenance expenditures for the unused facilities into account. A complete cancellation would cost Japan JPY4.52 trillion (USD41.5 billion), based on operating expenses and loss of tourism activity.

Further delaying the Olympics  will incur millions of loss. Japanese corporate sponsors have fuelled another USD200 million on top of the record USD3.3 billion already committed, while there is a plan for sharing the nearly USD300 million in additional costs incurred due to postponement between Tokyo, the central government and local Olympic organisers. Officially the tab for the Games comes to about USD13 billion, but a government audit published last year pegs the real tally at USD28 billion.

The IOC also has things at stake. It is keen to press ahead with the sporting event because most of its revenue (about 90%) comes from selling broadcasting rights and sponsorships.

Prestige and politics

This is an election year for Japan and is crucial for current Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, and the ruling party ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), who has been receiving low approval ratings recently. The LDP has been in power for 61 of the last 65 years. However, this may change if they do not handle the current health crisis right.

Sporting events like the Olympics are known as money pits, but from the leaders’ perspective, hosting these global events is more about international prestige than profit. The 1964 Olympics in Japan marked the end of the country’s post-war image and received international recognition and status once again.

The most recent 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in South Korea showed as a glimpse of the reunification of the North and South marching under one flag after it was not used since 2009.

The 2008 Beijing Olympics saw China’s great power status. Its upcoming hosting of the 2022 Winter Olympics could further elevate its status being the only city to have hosted both winter and summer games. For leaders, the Olympics seem to be a harbinger of good fortune and a legacy they could not miss.

One for the books

After being restricted and locked down for more than a year, don’t you want to enjoy yourself in a post-covid-19 coming-out party? Shaking off the lockdown blues and celebrating the Olympic values is the best way to herald a new era, if possible. There is no doubt that this Olympics is one for the books right after the global pandemic. It would be a great PR for Japan and the current leadership if it will be able to hold the games safely without a major outbreak of infection. The competitors will be vaccinated and there will be changes in the operating procedures.

It is also an opportunity to restart the severely affected tourism industry. It is still unclear whether spectators will be allowed in the games and the organisers will most likely decide at the last minute. Latest reports claimed that they are leaning towards allowing fans to watch the event.

Pride and honour

Lastly, we have to consider the Japanese culture of keeping one’s word. Fulfilling one’s obligation is a big deal in Japanese culture and people often go at great lengths just to see it through. In Japanese culture, public failure and the disapproval of others are seen as particular sources of shame and reduced social standing. Therefore, the Japanese government wants to avoid losing face even though the public is overwhelmingly unenthusiastic towards the Olympics. In this case, it seems that the organisers are exhausting all possible options before they throw in the towel.

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Tokyo Olympics in danger of being cancelled as city requests state of emergency https://dev.traveldailymedia.com/tokyo-olympics-cancelled-state-of-emergency/ Mon, 04 Jan 2021 00:41:34 +0000 https://www.traveldailymedia.com/?p=571477 The post Tokyo Olympics in danger of being cancelled as city requests state of emergency appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Brand TD.

Due to the rising coronavirus cases, governors of Tokyo, Chiba, Kanagawa and Saitama have requested the central government to declare another state of emergency to curb the spread of the infection.

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Due to the rising coronavirus cases, governors of Tokyo, Chiba, Kanagawa and Saitama have requested the central government to declare another state of emergency to curb the spread of the infection.

Japan is struggling to curtail the spread coronavirus recording more than 3000 new cases on Sunday. In Tokyo, 816 new cases bringing the total to 62,590, which is the highest of all 47 prefectures. The capital also said the number of people with severe symptoms rose to 101.

Economic revitalisation czar Yasutoshi Nishimura claimed that governors deemed the current health situation as severe and warrants another state of emergency. The state of emergency is needed to slow down the rate of infection and to lift the pressure off the hospitals.

Under the law, the prime minister can declare a state of emergency. Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declared a state of emergency in spring 2020 and was lifted in May.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is reportedly hesitant to declare another state of emergency as it will deliver another blow to Japan’s economy. Moreover, the Olympics is in danger of being cancelled as it seems that there is no end in sight for this current pandemic, especially after a more infectious strain of coronavirus first found in the UK may spread to other nations.

At the time of this writing, the Olympics and Paralympics will go ahead as scheduled in the summer of 2021. Japan and the Olympic committee are thinking of how they can hold the games safely.

Meanwhile, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach only has gratitude and admiration to Japan for its determination to hold the Tokyo Olympics. “We can only thank our Japanese partners and friends for their great commitment and their determination, which is absolutely in line with our commitment and our determination to organize these games in a safe and secure way for all the participants and to make these Olympic Games fit for the post-coronavirus world,” Bach said in his New Year’s message posted on the IOC’s official website.

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Japan to allow large-scale overseas visitors for Olympics https://dev.traveldailymedia.com/japan-to-allow-large-scale-overseas-visitors-for-olympics/ Thu, 03 Dec 2020 07:48:17 +0000 https://www.traveldailymedia.com/?p=568832 The post Japan to allow large-scale overseas visitors for Olympics appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Brand TD.

Japan aims to allow ‘large-scale’ numbers of overseas visitors to attend next year’s Tokyo Olympics without mandatory vaccinations or quarantine provided they submit negative Covid-19 test results and download tracking apps

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Japan aims to allow ‘large-scale’ numbers of overseas visitors to attend next year’s Tokyo Olympics without mandatory vaccinations or quarantine provided they submit negative Covid-19 test results and download tracking apps, the Nikkei business daily has reported.

The report, which did not identify the source of the information or detail how many visitors would be allowed, also said Japan would not restrict tourists from using public transportation systems.

Under current restrictions imposed to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, travellers are required to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival as well as sign up for contact-tracing apps.

Organisers of the Games, which were pushed back by a year in March because of the pandemic, had sold nearly 1 million tickets overseas, the paper said, compared with 4.5 million in Japan. Last month, senior International Olympic Committee official John Coates said the number of athletes participating in the Games would not be reduced and it was down to organisers to make them feel safe.

Over 11,000 athletes are expected in Tokyo for the Olympics and thousands more will come for the subsequent Paralympics.

The plan to allow large numbers of visitors from overseas would underscore Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s pledge to revitalise Japan’s battered economy by boosting tourism – a pillar of the nation’s economic measures also supported by his predecessor.

Suga has been promoting domestic travel campaigns despite a surge in novel coronavirus infections that is quickly filling hospital beds. The surge has dented Suga’s approval rating, with many saying his reluctance to put the brakes on domestic travel has contributed to the rising number of infections.

Japan has avoided the high numbers of infections and deaths from the virus seen in Europe and the US but with the cold season approaching the country has posted record numbers of daily cases in recent weeks.

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Japan to reopen for Olympics spectators, but under strict rules https://dev.traveldailymedia.com/japan-to-reopen-for-olympics-spectators-but-under-strict-rules/ Mon, 26 Oct 2020 00:27:59 +0000 https://www.traveldailymedia.com/?p=562635 The post Japan to reopen for Olympics spectators, but under strict rules appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Brand TD.

Approximately 15,000 athletes will take part in the Olympic Games, but this number is expected to rise up to 70,000 or 80,000 if we include the spectators.

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Japan is under immense pressure figuring out how to carry out the rescheduled Olympics next year. Japan was at the final stages of its preparation for the Games early this year when the health crisis happened that restricted people from travelling and gathering in groups.

During my travel to Japan late last year, I visited the Olympic Stadium designed by Kengo Kuma. Moreover, every trade fair I went to, Japan advertised the highly-anticipated Tokyo Olympics.

As countries navigate their way in what we dub as the “new normal,” we look for ways to carry out travel and events while preventing the spread of infection.

Last Friday, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga convened with cabinet officials to come up with a plan to accommodate the overseas arrivals for the Summer Games.

“Effective measures need to be taken in areas such as preventing outbreaks among tourists and those involved in the games, responding to local authorities, testing methods and maintaining our health system,” Suga said.

The national government, Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Olympic Organizing Committee agreed that athletes and spectators would be exempted from the existing entry ban in Japan. Athletes must submit negative test results and submit written itineraries as eligibility requirements.

Preventing clusters of infection is paramount in conducting the Olympic Games. The task force is expected to announce its concrete plans about border exemptions as well as medical response. Athletes are already limited to the Olympic villages, tournament venues and practice areas. As a rule, you are not allowed to use public transport.

Preliminary rules for Olympic viewers

Approximately 15,000 athletes will take part in the Olympic Games, but this number is expected to rise up to 70,000 or 80,000 if we include the spectators.

In order to protect Japan’s resident for the possible second wave of infection, suggestions are made on how to manage the influx of tourists. Restricted travel during the duration of their stay is one of the suggestions made to control the spread of the disease. According to Nikkei Asian Review, ticket holders would face ban on visiting certain districts.

Tourists will be subjected to coronavirus testing upon arrival. Test stations will be opened in all international airports in order to increase the daily testing capacity and accommodate the influx of Olympic observers.

The government is reportedly considering getting visitors to sign forms stating that they will follow instructions from the authorities during their stay prior to their departure from their respective countries. Any malicious activity could lead to deportation under immigration law.

However, final health and safety protocols will be made in spring next year, which will depend on the overall health situation. Let’s just hope that an effective vaccine will be developed just in time for the Games.

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UNWTO records 1.5 billion tourism arrivals in 2019 https://dev.traveldailymedia.com/unwto-records-1-5-billion-tourism-arrivals-in-2019/ Tue, 21 Jan 2020 05:53:25 +0000 https://www.traveldailymedia.com/?p=533734 The post UNWTO records 1.5 billion tourism arrivals in 2019 appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Brand TD.

About 1.5 billion international tourist arrivals were recorded globally by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) in 2019 – a new record. According to the first comprehensive report on global tourism numbers and trends of the new decade, the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, this represents the tenth consecutive year of growth. The figure […]

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About 1.5 billion international tourist arrivals were recorded globally by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) in 2019 – a new record. According to the first comprehensive report on global tourism numbers and trends of the new decade, the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, this represents the tenth consecutive year of growth.

The figure is a 4% increase on the number from 2018, with similar growth expected in 2020. All regions saw a rise in international arrivals in 2019. However, uncertainty surrounding Brexit, the collapse of Thomas Cook, geopolitical and social tensions and the global economic slowdown all contributed to a slower growth in 2019, when compared to the exceptional rates of 2017 and 2018. This slowdown affected mainly advanced economies and particularly Europe and Asia and the Pacific.

“Tourism a reliable economic sector.”

Looking ahead, growth of 3-4% is predicted for 2020, an outlook reflected in the latest UNWTO Confidence Index which shows a cautious optimism: 47% of participants believe tourism will perform better and 43% at the same level of 2019. Major sporting events, including the Tokyo Olympics, and cultural events, such as Expo 2020 Dubai, are expected to have a positive impact on the sector.

Presenting the results, Zurab Pololikashvili, secretary general of UNWTO said: “In these times of uncertainty and volatility, tourism remains a reliable economic sector. Against the backdrop of recently downgraded global economic perspectives, international trade tensions, social unrest and geopolitical uncertainty, our sector keeps outpacing the world economy and calling upon us to not only grow but to grow better.”

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It doesn’t burn, it explodes: The company supplying eco-fuel to the Tokyo Olympics https://dev.traveldailymedia.com/it-doesnt-burn-it-explodes-the-company-supplying-eco-fuel-to-the-tokyo-olympics/ Fri, 14 Jun 2019 11:10:19 +0000 https://www.traveldailymedia.com/?p=507063 The post It doesn’t burn, it explodes: The company supplying eco-fuel to the Tokyo Olympics appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Brand TD.

Back in March, news that an Austrian eco-fuel provider had opened up a new power plant in the town of Nong Bua in Thailand landed on my desk. The story outlined how the company, Gussing Renewable Energy, were introducing a CO2 neutral, no-burn, non-incinerator process to produce eco-friendly energy for the community. An interesting story […]

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The post It doesn’t burn, it explodes: The company supplying eco-fuel to the Tokyo Olympics appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Brand TD.

Back in March, news that an Austrian eco-fuel provider had opened up a new power plant in the town of Nong Bua in Thailand landed on my desk. The story outlined how the company, Gussing Renewable Energy, were introducing a CO2 neutral, no-burn, non-incinerator process to produce eco-friendly energy for the community. An interesting story but not really related to travel; still it piqued my interest and I read on.

Lo and behold, it turns out that the plant’s success in producing cheap, efficient energy was now transforming everyday waste-products into clean, green hydrogen which will be shipped  to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, to fuel the iconic sporting event’s fleet of buses and cars – now that’s something I can work with.

Fast-forward a couple of weeks and I am sitting in the Gussing offices in the Silom area of Bangkok, opposite company director, Michael Messner, as he explains the science behind the technology, which can be converted to create non-fossil electricity, hydrogen and aviation fuels.

“The material doesn’t burn – it explodes!”

It’s fascinating stuff. Though science, much to the chagrin of my super-rational father, has never been a particularly strong point of mine, Messner’s simple explanation, when I asked him to describe the process was, appropriately, illuminating.

“In our case, at our core, it is gasification [the process of converting organic or fossil fuel-based materials into carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen]. It’s a thermal process but it’s not combustion, which might sound strange.

A Gussing Renewable Energy power plant

There is a vessel that contains sand heated to almost 1000 degrees celsius and we insert the waste materials/biomass [for instance, corn husks] into the sand. As there is no oxygen in this vessel, the material doesn’t burn – it explodes! This is an instant chemical reaction that generates gas.”

When I cautiously suggested that this might be similar to vaping, Messner also exploded, exclaiming “Of course!” adding that my analysis was correct before chastising himself for not making the connection – leaving me a fetching shade of smug – before continuing to describe how the gas from the vaporised biomass is fed into an engine, which then creates the electricity.

Gussing’s tech at the Tokyo Olympics

Messner continues: “Forty percent of the gas that is produced is hydrogen, which is clean energy. Japan is presenting itself as being on the verge of becoming a hydrogen society. But Japan gets its hydrogen from Australia, which means they are they’re shipping liquid natural gas in ships from Australia to Japan to show how they’re going to become a hydrogen society.

“These ships are massive tankers, so you need large ports and three centres where the hydrogen is extracted from the natural gas, which is then put into trucks and transported all across the country.

“A network chain of small plants”

“What we have in mind is a network chain of small plants which supply filling station nearby with hydrogen, made from the waste materials and biomass from the local community – and that’s a beautiful thing.”

“This can power dozens of cars per day and thousands per year”

It is indeed, a beautiful thing, but Messner’s response to my next question – how many buses and cars can the plant provide fuel for – knocked me flat. Without missing a beat, he cooly answered: “The plant in Daigo [Ibaraki Prefecture] generates 400 m3 of hydrogen per hour. Depending on size of storage this can power dozens of cars per day and thousands per year.” I must be used to less impressive numbers when it comes to alternative power sources.

The fleet of Toyota Mirai zero-emission hydrogen fuelled cars delivered to the International Olympic Committee last week

Gussing’s licence partners in the endeavour – Edison Power Corporation, a fellow renewable energy developer, with a existing relationship with Toyota, the Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner – should be pleased that a single power plant, which took only 18 months to build, is capable of producing that level of energy for during its 20 year lifetime.

The potential of the technology is very exciting. Come back next week for part two of this story when that potential is examined further and learn how Gussing’s power plants could be the key to resolving Thailand’s annual haze that not only takes a toll on the villages and towns of the region but also hits the bottom line of the nation’s hospitality industry.

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Tokyo Olympics TH01-2019_1364 One of Gussing Renewable Energy power plants Toyota Mirai 2 Toyota Mirai zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell cars was delivered to the International Olympic Committee