Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) announced that the total number of foreign visitors to Japan in 2014 increased by 29.4% year-on-year to record-high 13,414,000, breaking the previous annual record of 10,364,000 in 2013. On the other hand, the total number of Japanese departures overseas reduced by 3.3% year-on-year to 16,903,000. The annual total combined foreign visitors and Japanese departures accordingly exceeded 30 million for the first time in the history of Japan.
Among 18 major inbound travel markets, visitors from 16 markets except U.K. and Russia reached record-high, and those from 17 markets resulted in double-digit year-on-year growths. The top market was Taiwan with 2,829,800 visitors, followed by Korea with 2,755,300 visitors and China with 2,409,200 visitors. The highest growth rate was 83.3% for China, followed by 70% for Philippine and 47.2% for Vietnam.
JNTO explained that the rapid increase in foreign visitors primarily resulted from significant ease of visa for several nations, ease of the duty-free shopping rule, outbound travel booming in emerging Asian nations and depreciation of the yen.
The followings are visitors to Japan by major market in 2014 (over 2013)
Korea 2,755,300 (+12.2%)
China 2,409,200 (+83.3%)
Taiwan 2,829,800 (+28.0%)
Hong Kong 925,900 (+24.1%)
Thailand 657,600 (+45.0%)
Singapore 227,900 (+20.4%)
Malaysia 249,500 (+41.3%)
Indonesia 158,700 (+16.0%)
Philippine 184,200 (+70.0%)
Vietnam 124,300 (+47.2%)
India 87,900 (+17.1%)
Australia 302,700 (+23.8%)
U.S.A. 891,600 (+11.6%)
Canada 182,900 (+19.7%)
U.K. 220,100 (+14.8%)
France 178,600 (+15.3%)
Germany 140,200 (+15.1%)
Russia 64,100 (+5.9%)
Others in total 823,100 (+19.8%)
