Foreign Tourists to Japan Marks Record High by September

Japan Tourism Agency Chief Akihito Tamura told in an interview September 16 that the total number of foreign tourists visiting Japan in 2015 aggregated record 13.42 million by September 10, bettering the record 13.41 million marked last year.

"If nothing happens, we will have welcomed 19 million visitors from abroad by year's end, Director Tamura said. The government had earlier targeted 20 million by 2020, the year of the Olympics, and now it seems most feasible.

In the months of January-August 12,875 million (+49% over the previous period last year) foreign tourists visited Japan. In August alone, 64% more over the previous period last year visited Japan, the highest percentage ever recorded since 1964 when the countering first started, except for the period March-May 2012 when reactions of the mega earthquake exposed and the month of May just recovered from the effects of severe acute respiratory syndrome ( SARS).

By country, China topped others with 2,247,000 million (2.2 times) , South Korea 2,554,100 million (+44%) followed by Taiwan 2,468,300 (+30%). The weakened yen helped extend their stays and boost shopping activities. A new air route was opened to induce more tourists from China, not wealthy Chinese but middle classes as well.

By region, 7.83 million were from Asia, 820 thousand from North America, 760 thousand from Europe  and 250 thousand from Oceania. Nearly half (43%) of the total number of foreign tourists came from China and Taiwan alone.
As regards China, the turmoils in the Shanghai Stock Market and the explosion in Tianjin affected the influx of Chinese tourists less than anticipated. "The upward trend in tourism will continue", added Director Tamura.

Tourism activates economy. The Tokyo Olympic Games in sight, Japan has a chance in a million in tourism to boost its economy.