TOKYO: Tourism ministers of the Group of 20 economies have agreed to cooperate to revive the tourism industry hit by strict travel restrictions around the world due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The G20 ministers released a statement after reaching the agreement in a special teleconference Friday night.

"We will continue our coordination with health, immigration, security, and other relevant authorities to minimize undue restrictions for essential travel such as for medical workers and stranded individuals," the statement said.

The 20 major advanced and emerging economies also agreed to take steps to ensure a "safe travel environment that helps rebuild consumer confidence in the sector."

Also planned are measures for "fostering innovation and digital technologies that enable sustainable practices and seamless travel" so that small businesses and workers in the industry can thrive after the end of the current crisis.

Japanese participants included State Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Nobuhide Minorikawa, who reported the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on his country's travel industry.

According to the latest data by the Japan National Tourism Organization, the number of foreign visitors to Japan in March slid 93 pct from a year before to 193,700, even worse than the previous record drop of 62.5 pct in April 2011, the month after a huge earthquake and tsunami disaster mainly hit northeastern Japan.

JIJI Press