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| Foreign tourists take a picture at Sensoji Temple in Tokyo on May 6, 2015. (Photo: Shizuo Kambayashi, AP) |
Japan’s tourism figure is increasing and it broke the record of having the arrival of international tourists as the country is gearing up for 2020 Olympic Games which is scheduled in Tokyo and the administration also eases the visa regulations and requirements.
There are some 28.7 million foreign tourists entered Japan in 2017, meaning the country has tripled its number of visitors in the past five years amid a massive promotional drive ahead of the Olympics.
This was a nearly 20-per cent profit on the previous year, driven by Chinese tourists taking advantage of more frequent low-cost flights to Japan.
According to figures up to November, the Chinese tourists led the way with 6.79 million trips, just ahead of South Korea with 6.46 million.
Tokyo has eased its visa requirements, expanded duty free programmes and changed customs and immigration rules to promote the travel and tourism in a drive to encourage the nation’s overall economic growth.
Japan used to center on drawing shopaholic foreign tourists to urban areas, like Tokyo’s glitzy Ginza district. But in recent years, more and more foreign visitors are venturing away from traditional tourist hubs like the capital and the ancient city of Kyoto, and going further afield, rather than buying gadgets to bring home, industry experts say.
However, day trip from Tokyo or to trek Mount Fuji and deep forests surrounding Japan’s highest peak becomes trendy.
Tags: 2020 Olympics, japan, Japan’s tourism, Tourism
