TOKYO – An estimated 401,700 visitors from the Philippines traveled to Japan between January and June this year, according to the latest preliminary figures.
The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) said that this marks a 44.9 percent increase year on year and a 36.1 percent rise from 2019 levels before the COVID-19 pandemic.
In June alone, Japan received 65,000 tourists from the Philippines, making it the country’s sixth largest market for visitor arrivals. This follows South Korea with 703,300 visitors, China with 660,900, Taiwan with 574,500, the United States with 296,400, and Hong Kong with 250,600.
Overall, Japan registered 17,777,200 foreign visitors in the six-month period, with spending totaling 3.9 trillion yen.
The Land of the Rising Sun is on track to welcome a record 35 million foreign visitors this year, with tourist spending potentially reaching 8 trillion yen.
The government plans to implement a pre-clearance system starting in January next year to shorten entry procedures for foreign visitors at airports, initially targeting travelers from Taiwan. - Florenda Corpuz
(Foreigners are seen strolling in Ginza, Tokyo on March 22, 2024. Photo by Din Eugenio)