93% decrease in foreign tourists visiting Japan in March

93% decrease in foreign tourists visiting Japan in March, the largest reduction ever recorded New Corona April 15 17:44

The number of foreign tourists visiting Japan last month dropped by 93% compared to the same month last year due to the spread of the new coronavirus. With the largest reduction ever recorded, even beyond the decline immediately after the Great East Japan Earthquake, the damage to the domestic economy due to the spread of infection is becoming more serious.

According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, the number of foreign tourists visiting Japan last month was an estimated 193,700, a 93% decrease from the same month last year.

The number of tourists has decreased for the sixth consecutive month, the largest decrease ever, exceeding the 62.5% decrease in April 2011 immediately after the Great East Japan Earthquake.

It is the first time in 31 years since February 1989 that the number of foreign tourists per month has fallen below 200,000.

This was due to the spread of the new coronavirus, which caused Chinese tourists to decrease by 10,400, or 98.5%, and Korean tourists by 16,700 to decrease by 97.1%.

In addition, the United States, where the infection spread rapidly, decreased by 87%, and in Europe, Italy decreased by 90% and the UK decreased by 82.4%.

In order to prevent the spread of infection, the Japanese government is currently refusing to enter foreigners from 73 countries and regions around the world, and at designated places for people coming in from all countries and regions, including Japanese. We are further strengthening measures at the waterfront by requesting a two-week waiting period.

The sharp decline is expected to continue from this month, and the damage to the domestic economy due to the spread of infection is extremely serious.

Strengthening the government's border measures

Behind the large drop in the number of foreign tourists in March was the government's stepwise strengthening of waterfront measures to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.

Since last February, the Japanese government refused to allow foreigners with a history of staying in Hubei Province, China to enter all the immigrants, including Japanese from China and South Korea, on the 9th of last month. We have begun requesting to wait for 2 weeks at the designated location.

By the 7th of last month, some areas of South Korea and Iran were subject to the refusal of entry, and by the 27th of last month, 21 countries in Europe, including Italy and France, were added.

Furthermore, from the 3rd of this month, we have taken strict measures to refuse the entry of foreigners from 49 countries and regions such as the United States and Britain, as well as China and South Korea.

Currently, 73 countries and regions around the world are subject to denial of entry.

In addition, immigration from other countries and regions not subject to the refusal of entry is also requested to wait for 2 weeks, and entry into Japan is strictly restricted.

In response to these measures, airline companies have decided to suspend or reduce flights significantly.

According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the number of international flights connecting Japan and overseas will be 260 round trips in one week starting from 12th of this month.

This is drastically reduced to about one twentieth compared to last summer's 5500 round trips per week.

Last year, the number of foreign tourists reached a record high of 31.88 million for the seventh consecutive year, and the consumption amount expanded to more than 4.8 trillion yen, contributing to the revitalization of the local economy.

However, it is feared that the impact on the tourism industry will be prolonged as the time for the spread of the infection to spread is uncertain globally.

Secretary-General of Japan Tourism Agency "Recognizing that severe conditions will continue"

Hiroshi Tabata, Secretary of the Tourism Agency, said at the press conference, "It's a big drop. It is a big negative because travel is being held around the world, countries are strengthening measures at the waterfront, and air flights are decreasing." I said.

In addition, regarding future outlook, "We are aware that the situation will continue to be severe in April, even in view of the immigration regulations of each country. Future outlook for when containment of infectious diseases will be realized I can't stand up, but I want to create an environment where I can travel with a sense of security as soon as possible, and work to restore international mobility. "