TOKYO: Japan welcomed a record 21.5 million visitors in the first half of the year, up 21 per cent from the first half of last year, despite a sharp drop in tourists from Hong Kong due to prevailing speculations of a strong earthquake.
According to figures released by the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) on Wednesday (July 16), the figure is the highest ever for six months. It was the quickest growth rate since the pandemic comeback when Japan reopened to tourists. Tourist arrivals in June alone rose 7.6 per cent year-on-year to 3.4 million, boosted by the start of school vacations and seasonal demand.
JNTO reported that the tourism growth was fueled by strong numbers from key markets like China, South Korea, Singapore, India, the United States, and Germany. Hong Kong bucked the trend, however, as visits plummeted 33.4 per cent because of unfounded internet rumours predicting a disastrous earthquake in Japan.
The rumour — which went viral on social media platforms in Hong Kong — referenced a Japanese manga comic that allegedly foretold a big natural disaster for July 2025, based on the author’s dream.
Japanese officials have since moved to clear the rumours, stressing that there is no scientific basis for such a prophecy.
Despite the temporary fall from Hong Kong, nearly 2.7 million residents of the territory visited Japan in 2024, reiterating its status as one of Japan’s most active source markets.
Shortly, the Japanese government is still dedicated to receiving 60 million visitors annually by 2030. The authorities are also striving to provide relief to the likes of Kyoto by nudging tourists into less crowded areas of the country.
The growing demand for decentralised tourism occurs against a background of overtourism and resident tiredness — a situation familiar to other mass foreign visitor destinations like Venice.
As Japan looks forward to the next travel season, the tourism industry remains a pillar of support for the country’s post-pandemic economic recovery.
