Strong Visitor Arrivals Drive Japan’s Tourism Rebound
Chinese Tourists Return, Boosting Japan’s Tourism Industry
Government Measures and Reopening Initiatives Support Recovery
Continued Efforts Required to Reach Pre-Pandemic Visitor Numbers
In August, official data revealed that Japan’s tourism industry achieved a significant milestone by recovering to over 80% of pre-pandemic levels. The country welcomed more than 2 million visitors for the third consecutive month, marking a steady recovery in international travel.
Strong Visitor Arrivals Drive Japan’s Tourism Rebound
During August, a total of 2.16 million foreign visitors arrived in Japan for business and leisure purposes. This surge in visitor numbers translates to 85.6% of the levels recorded in 2019, prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which had triggered travel restrictions worldwide.
Chinese Tourists Return, Boosting Japan’s Tourism Industry
Japan welcomed 364,100 visitors from China in August, marking a 16% increase from the previous month. This surge in Chinese visitors can be attributed to Beijing’s decision to lift restrictions on group travel to Japan. Historically, Chinese tourists constituted approximately 30% of all visitors and contributed to 40% of the total tourist spending in Japan in 2019. The removal of restrictions on group travel is expected to provide a substantial boost to inbound visitor spending in the country.
Government Measures and Reopening Initiatives Support Recovery
In addition to the lift in travel restrictions, government measures have played a vital role in revitalizing Japan’s tourism industry. The gradual resumption of international travel began when the Japanese government reinstated visa-free travel for many countries in October 2022. Furthermore, the government eliminated the remaining COVID-19 controls in May 2023, further facilitating the recovery of tourism.
Continued Efforts Required to Reach Pre-Pandemic Visitor Numbers
Japan’s tourism industry faced a prolonged hiatus of more than two years during the pandemic. However, the gradual recovery is ongoing, with over 15 million visitors arriving in Japan during the first eight months of 2023. While this signifies a promising recovery, it still falls significantly short of the record-setting pace of approximately 32 million visitors recorded in 2019, emphasizing the ongoing efforts required to fully revive the tourism sector.