#Radiation in Japan: First International Flight to Fukushima Airport Since March 11

A chartered flight from Taiwan arrived for the first time since March 11 at Fukushima Airport, carrying tourists who will spend their vacations in locations inside Fukushima Prefecture.

I don't understand why they do it; my best guess is that they just couldn't pass up great bargains to be had in Fukushima. It could be the bargain that they didn't even need to pay for the trip.

Asahi Shinbun (11/19/2011) reports:

東日本大震災と東京電力福島第一原発の事故の後、約８カ月ぶりとなる国際線のチャーター機が到着した福島空港の国際定期線再開に向けネックになっているのは、放射能汚染を心配する各国の規制だ。福島県は、各国・地域の航空会社に再開を要請し続け、１９日の運航にこぎ着けたが、「次便は未定」（観光交流課）という。

The first chartered flight since the March 11 earthquake and Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant accident arrived in Fukushima Airport. Regular international flights to and from Fukushima Airport haven't resumed, due to the restrictions placed by foreign countries for the fear of radiation contamination. Fukushima Prefecture has been requesting the resumption of the international flights to the international airlines in foreign countries and regions, and November 19's flight is the first result of the effort. However, according to the tourism section of the Fukushima prefectural government, the next flight is not scheduled.

　福島空港は原発から約６０キロ離れ、放射線量は毎時０．１～０．２マイクロシーベルト台と低い。しかし、日本政府観光局が把握しているだけでも、１２カ国・地域が福島県への渡航制限などを続ける。この日、福島に向けチャーター便が飛んだ台湾も、「福島県からの退避勧告」を出しており、観光客たちは自己責任で来県した。

The air radiation level at Fukushima Airport, 60 kilometers away from the nuclear power plant, is low, between 0.1 and 0.2 microsievert/hour. As far as the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) knows, twelve countries and regions continue the travel restriction to Japan. Taiwan, from which the charter flight to Fukushima today was originated, recommends "evacuation from Fukushima Prefecture". The tourists came at their own risk.

　成長戦略の柱として外国人観光客増加を目指す日本が期待する中国も、依然として「深刻な被災地への訪問自粛」を勧告している。政府は各国に規制解除を働きかけるが、「色よい返事はない」（観光庁）という。

Japan is looking toward China as the growth engine for international tourism, but China continues to maintain the recommendation not to visit the areas seriously affected by the disaster. The Japanese government has been working on the foreign counterparts to loosen the travel restrictions, but so far received "no favorable response", according to JNTO.

Since when 0.1 to 0.2 microsievert/hour became "low radiation" level? It used to be 0.03 to 0.06 microsievert/hour in Fukushima before the accident.

JNTO has a website specifically targeting Taiwanese tourists, and has been heavily promoting Tohoku region including Fukushima.

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