Tourism in Japan Plummets Despite Low Number of Coronavirus Cases

A shop owner in Kurashiki, Japan

Japan reported that foreign visitors to the archipelago nation plunged 58% in February compared to the same period last year.

Figures released by the Japan National Tourism Organization indicate that the novel coronavirus pandemic is taking a heavy toll on one of the country’s largest industries.  The agency said that the number of foreign visitors to Japan in February was 1.09 million, down from 2.6 million in February 2018.  It was the fifth straight month of decline.

“With the impact of the new coronavirus, demand for overseas travel in many markets including Japan has been curbed,” the agency said in a statement. “We will promote travel to Japan while closely monitoring future market trends.”

The drop included an 88% decline in visitors from China. Chinese citizens are usually the largest country’s source of tourists.  The figures also revealed an 80% decline in visitors from South Korea, also a large source of tourists for Japan.

The infection rate in Japan for the novel coronavirus is quite low.  The country has only reported 923 confirmed cases and six deaths in a period where countries including China and Korea have reported thousands of cases and hundreds of deaths.

(Photo: Accura Media Group)