Vietnam is expected to be the first country for which Japan will ease travel restrictions, government sources have said.
With Japan expected to reach an agreement with the Vietnamese government, the eased restriction will likely start late this month.
A maximum of about 250 mainly business travelers are expected to depart for Vietnam in the first group. The two governments are hurrying to coordinate the details for entry from Vietnam.
Japan currently has entry restrictions in place for foreign nationals from 111 countries and territories. Of these, the government has been studying easing restrictions for Vietnam, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand, where coronavirus infections have been stable.
The coordination between Japan and Vietnam has picked up after the two countries agreed to start talks on the gradual relaxation of restrictions in a telephone conversation held by the foreign ministers on June 1.
Vietnam, one of the 11 members of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, has strong economic ties with Japan. The Japanese business community has called for an early resumption of travel to and from Vietnam.
However, Vietnam, which has already resumed domestic economic activities, currently has travel restrictions prohibiting the entry of all foreign nationals, in principle.
"We should start with essential people such as business travelers and experts," Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said at a meeting of the Audit Committee of the House of Councillors on Monday. "After that, the easing will apply to foreign students and then the general public, including tourists."
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