Japan sees 1 mn more tourists post-pandemic, new half-year record
The Peninsula
Tokyo: Japan welcomed a million more foreign visitors in the first half of 2024 compared to pre pandemic levels, logging a new record of 17.78 million...
Tokyo: Japan welcomed a million more foreign visitors in the first half of 2024 compared to pre-pandemic levels, logging a new record of 17.78 million, the national tourism organisation said Friday.
The weak yen is attracting large crowds to Japan, with tourists splashing out on everything from kimonos to knives and pricey meals.
The January-June figure beat the previous high from 2019 of 16.63 million, an influx that has prompted overcrowding concerns at hotspots such as Kyoto and Mount Fuji.
"It's important that we promote rural regions to visitors, while taking measures against overtourism," Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told a cabinet meeting on the nation's efforts to expand inbound tourism.
Japan is expecting 35 million overseas visitors in 2024, with tourist consumption estimated at eight trillion yen ($50 billion).
