Japan to ease travel restrictions as pandemic wanes

Details: Starting Oct. 11, individual travelers will be allowed to enter Japan again, Bloomberg reports. Visa waivers for travelers from dozens of countries, including the U.S., will also be reinstated.

• Before the pandemic, Japan allowed visitors from 68 countries and regions to stay there for as long as 90 days without a visa.

What they're saying: “I hope many people will utilize it. I want to support the travel, entertainment and other industries that have been struggling during the coronavirus pandemic,” Kishida said at a news conference during his visit to New York for the UN General Assembly.

The big picture: Japan experienced two large waves of COVID infections this year. As recent as last month, the country was recording more than 200,000 cases almost every day.

• Despite recording almost 70,000 cases on Wednesday alone, its decision to reopen the country to foreign travelers signals a strong willingness to prop up a battered tourism industry.