Today's Edition
TOKYO (WAM)
Japan could see a record 35 million foreign visitors this year, as the government said Friday around 17.78 million people likely visited the country from January to June on the back of a weak yen, Kyodo News reported.
With an all-time high for the six-month period, the annual total is likely to surpass the previous record of 31.88 million registered in 2019 before the coronavirus pandemic, as the government aims to attract 60 million foreign visitors annually by 2030.
The estimate was released at a meeting of related Cabinet ministers held to discuss ways to achieve the goal while addressing "overtourism" and the promotion of steps to attract visitors to regional areas.
From April to June, foreign visitors spent a quarterly record of around $13.3 billion on accommodation and shopping, boosted by the yen's depreciation.
Japan saw around 3.14 million foreign visitors in June, the highest number for a single month, surpassing three million for the fourth straight month.
