Japan’s tourism industry continues to rebound, with May witnessing a significant surge in international visitors. According to government figures released on Wednesday, the country welcomed 3.04 million visitors in May, a remarkable 60.1 percent increase compared to the same month last year. This marks the third consecutive month where visitor numbers have surpassed the 3 million mark. The Japan National Tourism Organization attributes this surge to the Chinese holiday season and a notable increase in aircraft and ship arrivals from East Asia.
The influx of tourists from over a dozen nations and regions, including South Korea and the United States, resulted in record highs for several markets. May also saw a significant boost from the weakening yen, making Japan a more attractive travel destination for international tourists.
The data reveals that the total number of visitors from January to May reached 14.64 million, signifying a 6.5 percent increase compared to the same period in 2019, prior to the coronavirus pandemic.
South Korea led the way in visitor numbers, contributing 738,800 visitors, a 22.4 percent increase from 2019 and a 43.3 percent increase from the previous year. China followed closely with 545,400 visitors, a significant fourfold increase from the previous year, although still down 27.9 percent from 2019. The United States contributed 247,000 visitors, representing a 34.7 percent increase from the previous year and a 57.4 percent increase from May 2019. Taiwan came in third with 466,000 visitors, marking a 53.6 percent increase from the previous year and a 9.3 percent gain from 2019.
At a news conference, Commissioner of the Japan Tourism Agency Ichiro Takahashi expressed optimism, stating that if the current rate of arrival growth continues, the total number of visitors by 2024 could potentially surpass the record of 31.88 million achieved in 2019.
While international travel is on the rise, the number of Japanese people traveling abroad also showed a significant increase in May. A total of 941,700 Japanese citizens traveled abroad in May, representing a 39.4 percent increase from the previous year. However, this figure remains 34.5 percent lower than the number recorded in May 2019.
