At 2.52 million, Japanese tourists past pre-pandemic levels in October

Robert Besser
20 Nov 2023, 08:13 GMT+10

Official data released this week showed that visitors to Japan in October exceeded pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, indicating a full recovery for the first time since border controls were relaxed last year
Data from the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) showed that the number of foreign visitors for business and leisure rose to 2.52 million in October, from 2.18 million in September
Visitor numbers rose to 100.8 percent of 2019 levels before the start of COVID-19, which led to the adoption of travel restrictions around the world

TOKYO, Japan: Official data released this week showed that visitors to Japan in October exceeded pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, indicating a full recovery for the first time since border controls were relaxed last year.

Data from the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) showed that the number of foreign visitors for business and leisure rose to 2.52 million in October, from 2.18 million in September.

Visitor numbers rose to 100.8 percent of 2019 levels before the start of COVID-19, which led to the adoption of travel restrictions around the world.

Ending some of the world's strictest border restrictions in October 2022, Japan resumed visa-free travel for many countries, eventually scrapping all remaining controls in May.

Boosted by a weakening yen that made Japan a cost-effective destination, visitor arrivals exceeded two million for each of the five months through October.

The JNTO said that the October figures were supported by a recovery in international flights to 80 percent of pre-pandemic levels, as well as strong demand from Southeast Asia, North America, Europe and Australia, while travelers from Canada, Mexico, and Germany reached all-time highs for any month.

However, visitors from mainland China are still 65 percent below October 2019 figures, when Chinese visitors accounted for nearly a third of all visitors and 40 percent of all tourist spending in Japan.

JNTO data showed that some 20 million people visited Japan in the first ten months of 2023, compared with the record of around 32 million in 2019.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Entertainment Sun.

More Information

28 ℃

Mostly Cloudy in Seletar

International

Section

U.S. steps up delivery of bombs to Israel after defeating UN resolution

WASHINGTON, DC - Within hours of blocking a UN Security Council resolution from demanding a ceasefire in the current Mideast ...

Biden popularity near lowest level of presidency: Reuters/Ipsos poll

WASHINGTON D.C.: In a sign of the challenges ahead for his 2024 re-election bid, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll showed that ...

Israeli ambassador extends thanks to U.S. president after UN vote

Israel has acknowledged and thanked the United States and President Joe Biden for standing firmly by Israel's side at the ...

E-bike's battery catches fire in New York, killing 1, injuring 6

NEW YORK: This week, New York City officials said that one person was killed and six others were injured when ...

United Kingdom passes on crucial vote to end war in Gaza

NEW YORK, New York - The United Kingdom refrained from supporting demands for a ceasefire in the two-months long Israel-Gaza ...

United States strikes down international demand for ceasefire

NEW YORK, New York - The U.S. was alone on Friday in a 13-1 vote for a ceasefire in the ...

Movies

Section