Japan Achieves Record-Breaking Inbound Tourism and Expenditure

Synopsis

In 2024, Japan experienced a remarkable surge in inbound tourism, with record-breaking visitor numbers and spending attributed to a weaker yen. The government aims to attract 60 million annual visitors by 2030, highlighting the country's growing popularity as a travel destination.

Key Takeaways

Record visitor spending reached 8.14 trillion yen.
Visitor numbers increased by 47.1% to 36.87 million.
China accounted for 20% of total spending.
Japan's government targets 60 million annual visitors by 2030.
Outbound Japanese travelers rose by 20.7% in September 2024.

Tokyo, Jan 15 (NationPress) In 2024, inbound tourism in Japan soared to unprecedented levels, with both the number of visitors and their spending reaching remarkable highs, driven by a depreciated currency that enhanced the country's appeal as a tourist destination, according to data released on Wednesday.

Visitor expenditure for 2024 skyrocketed by 53.4% compared to the previous year, amounting to 8.14 trillion yen (approximately 51.8 billion US dollars), exceeding the prior record of 5.31 trillion yen set in 2023, as reported by the Japan Tourism Agency.

The depreciated yen, a notable increase in visitor numbers, and rising accommodation costs all played a role in these record figures.

The average spending per visitor climbed 6.8% year-on-year to 227,242 yen, with China dominating the spending landscape at about 20% of the total.

Additional data from the Japan National Tourism Organisation indicated that approximately 36.87 million foreign tourists visited Japan in 2024, marking a 47.1% increase from the prior year. December alone welcomed 3.49 million visitors, the highest monthly figure ever recorded, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

The Japanese government has set a target to attract 60 million annual visitors and achieve 15 trillion yen in spending by 2030.

Government agencies revealed that Japan recorded 2,872,200 foreign visitors in September 2024, marking the highest number ever logged for that month, as tourists continue to arrive, largely supported by a weakened yen.

Increased flight availability to Japan, combined with a rise in outbound travelers during public holidays in nearby countries like South Korea and China, has contributed to this surge.

Visitor arrivals from abroad remained robust throughout the previous year as Japan implemented various initiatives aimed at attracting foreign tourists and enhancing tourism nationwide.

Simultaneously, the number of outbound Japanese travelers saw a 20.7% year-on-year increase, reaching 1,212,600 in September 2024.