Japan National Tourism Organisation announced that Japan has attracted record breaking number of tourists in 2014. The number of tourists visiting Japan is increased 30 percent and reached 13 million. According to the latest figures there were a record 1.22 million visitors to the country for the month of January, a 29 per cent increase on-year.
The easing of visa requirements into Japan has made it easier for people from around Asia to enter the country.
The top arrivals are from Taiwan and South Korea, while the biggest increase in numbers last year was from China, an 83 per cent jump in visitors from 2013.
However travel industry professionals are not sure if Japan will reach its target of 20 million annual foreign arrivals by the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. "The lack of hotels in Tokyo, Kyoto and in the big cities is what we feel needs to be addressed at this moment," said Tomoe Suzuki, Sales Manager at JTB Global Marketing & Travel.
"First we need more flights. Are there enough seats? Is there space at airports for more departures and arrivals? We need to make more free Wi-Fi available. We need multilingual signboards; first in English, Chinese and Korean. Do we have meals that can be served to Muslims? How about space for prayers?" said Tetsuya Mori, the Deputy Director of Tourism Strategy for the Japan Tourism Agency
