Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, many national governments have implemented travel restrictions. Under these circumstances, what are public attitudes toward foreign travelers in host countries? This study conducts a conjoint experiment to explore the public attitudes in Japan toward travelers from Europe and other regions of the world with varied infection trends. The experiment will be conducted online in early 2021.

The Japanese government was criticized domestically for delaying travel restrictions in the early stages of this pandemic. Responding to that, Japan imposed strict restrictions on the entry to Japan for foreigners, including Europeans, with or without permanent residency. However, after the Emergency Declaration was over in May 2020, Japan has been eased restrictions on the entry of foreigners gradually. Notably, there are social pressures to reopen the border toward hosting the 2021 Olympic games in Tokyo. Thus, Japan is a significant case to investigate public attitudes toward inbound travelers.

This study contributes to both scholarship and policy debates. Regarding scholarship, this study connects immigration studies with tourism studies, and explores xenophobic attitudes under pandemic. Specifically, unlike earlier research, it shows uniquely whether or not the perceived risk of infection affects public attitudes toward travelers based on Terror Management Theory in social behavior. Regarding policy debates, it shows the conditions under which and extent to which the public agrees with a reopening of borders while controlling for COVID-19. Specifically, it explores how scientific evidence such as the results of PCR or antigen tests changes public attitudes toward inbound travelers.