International visitors to Japan reached a new high in August, with approximately 2.93 million people arriving from overseas, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO). This marks a significant 16.4% increase compared to the same period in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic began.
August typically sees a decline in foreign visitors, and this was the first time in six months that the monthly number fell below 3 million. However, despite this trend, August 2021 set a record high for the month and marked the seventh consecutive monthly record for visitor numbers this year.
China remained the top source of visitors with 745,800 arrivals in August, although this represented a decrease of 25.5% compared to August 2019. South Korea followed closely behind with 612,100 visitors, experiencing an impressive growth rate of 98.3%.
Italy and Spain also saw their highest-ever monthly totals with 34,700 and 25,900 visitors respectively.
From January to August of this year alone, over 24 million international tourists visited Japan.
Typically during August and September there is a decrease in international visitors due to typhoon-related flight cancellations as well as many foreign nationals spending time with their families during their long holidays. However, despite these factors that usually contribute to lower visitor numbers during these months,
the growth rate observed in August was actually higher than any other month so far this year.
Japan Tourism Agency Commissioner Naoya Haraikawa expressed his belief that if no problems arise,
this positive trend will continue.
In anticipation of more tourists coming to Japan,
hotel and airline operators are expanding their businesses.
Foreign-affiliated hotels are actively investing in Japan,
with InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG) planning on opening hotels across various locations by
2026.
Marriott International Inc., meanwhile,
has announced plans for hotel openings throughout Kyoto and six other Japanese locations starting from autumn
2025.
Visitor numbers from India have increased by
28% while those from Middle Eastern countries have seen an impressive growth rate of
68.1% from January through August when compared to figures from
2019.
Traditionally popular sources such as China,
South Korea,
and Southeast Asian countries have been joined by increasing numbers of tourists from Europe and North America.
Furthermore,
there are growing expectations for increased tourism from India and Middle Eastern nations as potential future growth markets.
To cater to these emerging markets,
Japan Airlines Co.,
for example,
began offering nonstop flights between Tokyo and Doha at the end of March—making it the first Japanese airline providing direct flights between Japan and the Middle East.
Additionally,
JAL has plans for code-sharing services on Indian routes starting later this year.
All Nippon Airways Co.,
on its part,
is preparing for a new route connecting Haneda Airport with Istanbul by
2025
