According to VisaNet1 data from Visa Advisory and Analytics (VCA), Japan continues to be a favorite destination for Vietnamese tourists.
Specifically, data shows that 41% of Vietnamese consumers have planned leisure travel in the next 6 months. During the cherry blossom season alone, Vietnamese tourists spend the most when traveling to Japan. According to data from Visa, during the cherry blossom season in 2023, the average spending per Visa card of Vietnamese tourists in Japan increased by 22% compared to the same period last year.
Vietnamese tourists prefer to shop for items such as cosmetics, health foods, clothes, fashion, watches, and jewelry. Department stores, pharmacies, and high-end jewelry stores in major cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, Chiba, Shizuoka, and Aichi are favorite shopping destinations for Vietnamese tourists.
Tourists to Japan are increasing in number and spending power.
Vietnamese tourists are also said to start spending early and heavily, with more than 45% of their travel spending taking place in the first few days of their trip.
The wealthy group usually spends 20% - 30% of their budget on accommodation and then spends on shopping in the second half of their trip to Japan. In contrast, the budget-conscious group tends to spend more flexibly, focusing on dining and shopping experiences.
Contactless payments were also boosted by tourists in general, with total usage increasing by 14% during the cherry blossom season. Among Vietnamese tourists, contactless transactions increased by 5% during the cherry blossom festival.
This trend reflects the growing demand for seamless payment solutions, driven by the expansion of widespread payment acceptance in core sectors such as restaurants and groceries.
Japan's tourism industry had an impressive May with 3.04 million international visitors to the Land of the Rising Sun, marking the third consecutive month the number has exceeded the 3 million mark.
According to official data released by the government on June 19, the number of international tourists in May increased by 60.1% compared to the same period last year, contributing to a strong boost for Japan's tourism economy, which is on the way to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) attributed the sharp increase in international visitors to a number of factors, including the weaker yen, which has helped stimulate overseas tourism; the Chinese holiday season; and an increase in flights and ships from East Asia.
In addition, the number of tourists to Japan from more than 12 countries and territories, including South Korea and the US, also reached a record high during the month.
Overall, Japan's tourism industry is showing positive signs of recovery and promises to make an important contribution to the country's economic development in the coming time.
