The government decided Friday to start a support program to offer discounts on tickets for events, such as sports games and concerts, as early as mid-October under its Go To Campaign to stimulate demand.
The decision was made during a meeting of a subcommittee on measures against the novel coronavirus, which was held for the first time after Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga launched his Cabinet. The government also plans to start offering discounts for travel to and from Tokyo on Oct. 1 under the initiative.
At the meeting, the government also approved an interim report on vaccines that stipulates who should be given priority for vaccinations.
At a press conference after the subcommittee meeting, Yasutoshi Nishimura, minister in charge of economic revitalization, said, "New styles of daily life in which we strike a balance between anti-infection measures and economic and social activities have gradually taken root."
This measure for events is the last to be implemented among support programs that the government originally planned under the "Go To Campaign" initiative, which also includes a measure to boost the restaurant industry.
On Friday, the subcommittee, which mainly comprises experts on infectious diseases and the economy, approved stimulus measures for events and shopping districts. The Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry will undertake work to support event organizers and shopping districts, among other entities. Under the initiative, consumers will receive benefits such as being able to buy tickets at discounted prices. In addition to sports, events subject to the discount campaign will include theatrical performances, movies, museums and amusement parks. If people buy tickets in ways such as on registered ticket sales sites, they can receive a 20% discount on the purchase, or a 20% discount coupon for their next purchase. The upper limit for a discount is 2,000 yen per purchase.
The government plans to provide shopping districts with up to 3 million yen in support for such efforts as holding events to revitalize the districts and developing local tourism products.
As for the report on vaccination, the government decided to give priority to medical workers who deal with patients infected with the virus, elderly people and those with chronic diseases who are likely to develop serious symptoms. It will continue to consider whether to include employees at nursing facilities for the elderly and pregnant women for whom the risk of becoming seriously ill is unclear.
The division of roles between the central and local governments was also decided. The government will establish a compensation system if vaccines that the central government purchases cause health damage to people. Under the plan, municipal governments will sign a contract with medical institutions that will administer the vaccinations, and ask residents to be vaccinated. The central government will clarify further who will take priority for receiving vaccinations and compile a final report taking public comments into consideration.
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