TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Japan broke its record for foreign visitors in 2024, welcoming 36.87 million tourists, with South Korea, China, and Taiwan as the top contributors, the Japan National Tourism Organization (日本觀光局) reported Wednesday (Jan. 15). This figure surpassed the previous high of 31.9 million set in 2019 and marked a 47% increase from the previous year.
South Korea led the pack with 8.82 million visitors, followed by China with 6.98 million and Taiwan with 6.04 million. December alone saw 3.49 million foreign tourists, marking the highest monthly total for the year. The United States, Hong Kong, and Thailand also crossed the million-visitor mark with 2.72 million, 2.68 million, and 1.15 million tourists, respectively.
The yen's depreciation to a 37-year low made Japan an attractive and affordable destination. Tourism spending by foreign visitors is estimated at 8.13 trillion yen (approximately NT$1.7 trillion). Meanwhile, the weaker yen curtailed outbound travel for Japanese citizens, with only 13 million departures in 2024, a 35% decrease from 2019. Japan's tourism industry continues to thrive despite challenges, benefiting from favorable currency conditions.
