A record number of tourists visited Japan last year, the government said Friday, as the country gears up to welcome the world to the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020. Some 28.7 million foreign tourists entered Japan in 2017, meaning the country has tripled its number of visitors in
A record number of tourists visited Japan last year, the government said Friday, as the country gears up to welcome the world to the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020.
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% gain on the previous year, driven by Chinese tourists taking advantage of more frequent low-cost flights to Japan.
According to figures up to November, Chinese tourists led the way with 6.79 million trips, just ahead of South Korea with 6.46 million.
Tokyo has eased visa requirements, expanded duty free programs and changed customs and immigration rules to promote tourism in a drive to spur the nation’s overall economic growth.
