Japan sees record 21.5 million tourists in first six months
"The number exceeded 20 million in six months, the fastest pace ever," the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) said in a statement.
The figure in June alone jumped 7.6 per cent to record 3.4 million, due to "increased demand to coincide with school holidays," it said.
The number was boosted by a jump year-on-year in tourists from China, South Korea, Singapore, India, the United States and Germany.
But the number of travellers from Hong Kong plunged 33.4 per cent in June, with the JNTO citing online rumours warning of a huge quake in Japan.
The number of travellers from Hong Hong in the first six months declined 0.4 per cent to 1.27 million people.
People from Hong Kong made nearly 2.7 million trips to Japan in 2024.
Although it is impossible to know exactly when earthquakes will hit, fear-inducing predictions have spread widely among the Chinese city's residents.
Some posts cited a Japanese manga comic that predicts a major natural disaster this month (July) — based on the author's dream.
Japanese authorities have repeatedly said the rumours are false.
The government has set an ambitious target of almost doubling tourist numbers to 60 million annually by 2030.
Authorities say they want to spread tourists more evenly around the country, and to avoid a bottleneck of visitors eager to snap spring cherry blossoms or vivid autumn colours.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
ONYX Hospitality Group Reinforces Long-Term Commitment to Key Market Japan Through Targeted Development Strategy
BANGKOK, THAILAND - Media OutReach Newswire - 24 July 2025 - ONYX Hospitality Group, the prominent management company in Southeast Asia specialising in hotels and resorts, serviced apartments and luxury residences, is reinforcing its long-term commitment to Japan as a key strategic market through a targeted development initiative. As part of its broader vision for growth in Northeast Asia, ONYX will embark on a focused Japan Sales Mission from 29th September to 3rd October 2025, aimed at strengthening trade partnerships and laying the groundwork for future growth in the region. This initiative centres on one-on-one meetings with key partners, reflecting ONYX's strategic focus on consultative engagement and its dedication to cultivating long-term, mutually beneficial relationships within the Japanese travel trade. 'Japan is a market that rewards consistency, depth, and cultural alignment,' said Mr Yuthachai Charanachitta, CEO of ONYX Hospitality Group. 'Success here relies on strong, ongoing partnerships with travel agents and tour operators, and we are fully committed to nurturing these relationships. This sales mission is a key part of our long-term strategy to tailor our offerings to the evolving needs of Japanese travellers and steadily grow our presence through thoughtful, partner-led development.' The sales mission and partner engagements will focus on showcasing ONYX's key properties in Thailand, highlighting the Group's strong presence in a region highly appealing to Japanese tourists. Thailand remains a top destination for medical and wellness tourism, golf travel, as well as long-stay and retirement segments - niches that are especially popular among Japanese travellers. ONYX Hospitality Group is uniquely positioned to cater to these markets through its diversified portfolio across key Thai destinations. Bangkok and Phuket consistently rank among the top preferred destinations for Japanese travellers, creating exciting opportunities for several of ONYX's flagship properties across its Amari, OZO, and Shama brands. Properties that are already well-regarded by Japanese travellers include Amari Bangkok, Amari Phuket, Amari Pattaya, OZO North Pattaya, and Shama Lakeview Asoke Bangkok. This diverse portfolio reflects the varied preferences of the Japanese market, ranging from the warm hospitality and comprehensive services of Amari, the contemporary appeal of OZO, to the spacious serviced apartments offered by Shama. Beyond well-known destinations, there is growing interest among Japanese travellers in emerging areas such as Chonburi Province, located on Thailand's eastern Gulf coast and home to popular beach towns like Bangsaen and Pattaya. This opens further potential for properties such as Amari Pattaya, OZO North Pattaya, and the newly opened Amari Bangsaen, located approximately 85 kilometres southeast of Bangkok and close to Pattaya. Similarly, Khao Lak, in Phang Nga Province north of Phuket, represents a promising market for Amari Vogue Krabi, located nearby in Krabi Province. This reflects rising interest in secondary Thai destinations. The upcoming activities in Japan aim to further strengthen the profile of ONYX's established key properties while also exploring opportunities to tailor offerings at emerging destinations, meeting the evolving needs of the Japanese market and deepening engagement with the travel trade. Further enhancing ONYX's strong portfolio and proactive efforts, robust air connectivity between Thailand and Japan - including direct flights from Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka - enhances travel convenience, supporting frequent visits by both leisure and business travellers, as well as long-stay visitors. As part of ONYX Hospitality Group's strategic growth, the upcoming Japan sales mission will highlight properties under the newly established ONYX Hospitality Real Estate Investment Trust (ONYXRT). This REIT was set up through a filing with Thailand's Securities and Exchange Commission and initially includes four high-performing leasehold properties: Amari Bangkok, Amari Pattaya, OZO Pattaya, and OZO Phuket - all demonstrating strong average occupancy rates above 80%. Featuring ONYXRT properties in the Japan sales mission underlines the Group's integrated approach, combining operational excellence with asset optimisation to maximise value across its portfolio. The sales mission reinforces ONYX Hospitality Group's long-term commitment to the Japanese market by strengthening strategic relationships with leading wholesalers, OTAs, and retail agencies. It will highlight ONYX's commitment to aligning its offerings with the evolving preferences of Japanese travellers, while gathering valuable market insights to inform future product and marketing development. By maintaining a consistent and engaged presence, ONYX aims to secure sustainable growth and deepen its footprint in this important market over the years to come.
The Star
6 hours ago
- The Star
Trove for souvenir hunters
Varieties of handicraft, mementoes of Malaysia and colourful paper lanterns (below) are among goods shoppers can find at Petaling street in Kuala lumpur's Chinatown. CHINATOWN is one of the top tourist sites in Kuala Lumpur, with its history and new attractions. Its temples, charming shophouses and old-school shops selling everything from household goods to Chinese brushes and baskets, are a major draw for visitors during the day, while the area's nightlife attract a different crowd. Key chains being put on display at a stall inside Petaling Street, Kuala Lumpur. — YAP CHEE HONG/The Star Tourists can pick up souvenirs as well as some bargains along Petaling Street. Among the many items that can be found there are Malaysia-themed clothing, tote bags, fridge magnets, postcards and seasonal lanterns which will make good trip mementoes. Then there are scores of traditional street-food stores, while cooling drinks like coconut water or herbal tea can bring a day of sunny shopping to a refreshing close.
The Star
10 hours ago
- The Star
India to resume issuing China tourist visas
India will resume issuing tourist visas to Chinese citizens from today, its embassy in China said, the first time in five years as both countries move to repair their rocky relationship. Tensions between the two countries escalated following a 2020 military clash along their disputed Himalayan border. In response, India imposed restrictions on Chinese investments, banned hundreds of popular Chinese apps and cut passenger routes.
