Editorial

15:23 JST, January 18, 2025

The number of foreign visitors to Japan, who are attracted by the country’s many resources for tourism, has increased significantly.

To sustainably develop the tourism industry, it is important to improve preparations to accept them and deepen their understanding of Japan.

The number of visitors to Japan in 2024 hit a record high of about 36.87 million, up 47.1% from 2023. The previous record of about 31.88 million was set in 2019, before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the 2024 figure surpassed it by about 5 million. Tourists’ consumption also exceeded ¥8 trillion for the first time.

The largest number of visitors to Japan came from South Korea at 8.81 million, followed by China at 6.98 million. In addition to tourists from neighboring countries, the increase is also characterized by higher numbers of those from Western........

© The Japan News