(TAN): Train stations and airports in Japan were filled with people over the Silver Week holiday weekend running through September 22, which is seen as a sign of recovery of local travel amid the coronavirus pandemic, AP reported.
Silver Week includes this weekend and two national holidays, Respect for the Aged Day on September 21 and the Autumnal Equinox on September 23. Since September 21 is a Monday, therefore September 22 is declared as a people’s holiday, thereby creating “Silver Week”.
The surge of domestic travel is a contrast to previous holidays, such as the summer Obon. A government-backed GoTo discount campaign at hotels and restaurants was launched in July to encourage travel within Japan. However Tokyo was left out. The daily new cases of Covid-19 infections in Tokyo have recently fluctuated at around 200 people. It’s still unclear whether the ban on Tokyo will be lifted from next month, as proposed.
Travel agencies and hotels have already started taking reservations with the promise of cancellation at no extra cost if the ban is not lifted in Tokyo.
Around 1,500 people have so far died in Japan in cases related to Covid-19.
