The year 2024 marks a new milestone for Japan's tourism industry as the country officially breaks all previous records for international tourist arrivals. With an impressive 33 million visitors in just the first 11 months of the year, Japan has affirmed its position as one of the most attractive destinations in the world. This remarkable growth not only shows the irresistible appeal of the land of the rising sun but also proves the strong recovery of the tourism industry after the pandemic.
In November alone, the number of foreign visitors to Japan reached 3,187,000. If calculated from the beginning of the year until now, international visitors to Japan have reached 33,379,900, surpassing the peak of 2019 before the Covid-19 outbreak, becoming a new record for the Japanese tourism industry.
2024 will see a quantum leap for Japan's tourism industry
In 2024, Japan's tourism industry saw a significant change in the structure of tourists. The United States officially surpassed China to become the largest tourist market, with an impressive growth of 57.7%. This shows the continued attractiveness of Japan to American tourists. Meanwhile, the number of Chinese tourists decreased by 28.2%. This change can be explained by many factors, including the relaxation of epidemic control measures, a weak yen and effective tourism promotion campaigns. South Korea and Taiwan remain important markets, with growth of 49% and 22.3%, respectively.
Not only did the number of tourists increase dramatically, the average spending per tourist in Japan also reached a new record, reaching 209,000 Yen (equivalent to 35.5 million VND). This significant increase shows that tourists are increasingly willing to spend on high-end and unique experiences in the land of the rising sun. This can be explained by the global economic recovery, the weak yen and the diversification of tourism products and services in Japan.
With more than 33 million visitors in just the first 11 months of the year, Japan has surpassed all forecasts and affirmed its position as one of the most attractive destinations in the world.
The Japan Tourism Agency has just announced the results of a study showing that the devaluation of the yen is one of the important factors causing the number of international tourists to Japan to skyrocket. However, in addition to economic factors, the attractiveness of Japan's culture, cuisine, and unique tourist attractions also contribute to this success. Realizing the great potential of the tourism industry, the Japanese government has set an ambitious goal of attracting 60 million tourists per year by 2030, making the country one of the world's top destinations.
The ambitious goal of attracting 60 million tourists by 2030 poses many major challenges for Japan. In addition to the economic benefits, the sudden increase in tourists also means that popular tourist destinations are facing overcrowding, putting pressure on transportation systems, infrastructure and the environment. To solve this problem, the Japanese government needs comprehensive solutions, including investing in upgrading infrastructure, dispersing tourists to new locations, and promoting sustainable tourism.
