How many tourists are too many for Japan?
The government is promoting tourism to boost its economy. While some of its targets seem less likely after last month’s natural disasters, some locals may not be too displeased as over-tourism continues to worsen
The country of 127 million is gunning for 40 million inbound tourists in 2020 – a target thought to be well within reach, until official figures showed a decline in arrivals of more than 5 per cent in September.
Travel authorities insist the tourist figures, the first month-on-month drop since 2013, are a direct result of the recent sequence of natural disasters that struck the country. September saw Typhoon Jebi, the most powerful typhoon to hit Japan in 26 years, and this was followed just days later by a magnitude-6.7 earthquake that killed at least 40 people in Hokkaido. They have served only to underline the precariousness of an industry that relies very heavily on Japan being perceived as a safe destination.
About 28.7 million foreigners visited Japan last year, up from just 8.3 million 10 years ago, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.
This past September, those who stayed away included South Koreans, with 14 per cent less travellers compared to the same month last year. Visitor numbers from Taiwan were down 5.4 per cent, while there was a 3.8 per cent drop in Chinese tourists to 652,700.
The travel industry, as well as national and regional governments, have worked hard to repair Japan’s image, leading travel agents to agree the numbers for October should show a recovery.
But the slowdown could prevent the total number of arrivals this year breaking through the 30 million threshold for the first time, even as the government continues implementing measures to reach its 2020 target.
