According to the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO), Japan has reportedly exceeded its half-year record of tourists with over 17.78 million due to the continuous weakening of the yen currency. This weakening yen has made Japan a more affordable destination for international travelers. From January to June, its figure exceeded its pre-pandemic record of 16.63 million with the influx of tourists, particularly in Kyoto and Mount Fuji.
Among the visitors, South Korea topped the chart with over 4.4 million in the first half of 2024, followed by China with 3 million. Visitors from Taiwan and the United States were third and fourth place, respectively.
Japan aims to attract over 60 million tourists by 2030, doubling the 2019 full-year record of 31.88 million. Ichiro Takahasi, head of JNTO, called the target figure “a figure that we can very much achieve by making the right efforts.”
“There are still many little-known places in Japan that are left unexplored by tourists from overseas — I believe Japan has infinite tourism resources,” he added.
The government will introduce a new pre-clearance system next year where visitors can complete the immigration screening quickly. They have declared a comprehensive course of action to promote tourism with an allocated budget of ¥8 trillion ($50.7 billion) in 2024, demonstrating their commitment to managing the surge in tourism.
However, many residents have raised their concerns about the surge of tourism. For instance, some residents have restricted tourist activities in the famous convenience store with a view of Mount Fuji; others have complained about the harassment of tourists by the city’s famed geisha, and the mayor of Himeji is considering additional tourist fees. These concerns highlight the need for a balanced approach to tourism that respects the local community.
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