(Created based on JNTO data)
According to JNTO, the number of international visitors to Japan in December 2024 was 3,489,800, representing an approximately 10% increase from 3,187,000 in November 2024. Compared to the same month in 2019, when the figure was 2,526,387, this marks a rise of over 40%, indicating a robust recovery that significantly exceeds pre-pandemic levels.
(Created based on JNTO data)
The number of international visitors in December 2024 increased by approximately 740,000 compared to December 2023, showing a year-on-year growth of 30.6%. Additionally, compared to December 2019, this represents a rise of about 746,000. The main factors behind this growth include increased demand for travel to Japan from South Korea and Hong Kong, as well as stable inflows of tourists from Taiwan and the United States.
The number of visitors from South Korea was 867,400, showing a 15.7% month-on-month increase and a 10.8% year-on-year increase. Compared to December 2019, this represents an approximate 250% rise, reflecting a strong recovery in the South Korean market. Meanwhile, the number of visitors from China was 604,200, showing a 10.6% month-on-month increase but a 15% decrease compared to December 2019. While the Chinese market has not yet fully recovered, the continued growth trend is a positive sign.
The number of visitors from Taiwan was 491,200, showing a modest month-on-month increase of 0.6% but a 41% rise compared to December 2019, indicating that Taiwan is leading the recovery of tourism demand. The number of visitors from Hong Kong was 285,600, recording a significant month-on-month increase of 25.8%. Visitors from the United States totaled 238,500, showing a 65.1% increase compared to December 2019 but a 3.6% decrease from the previous month.
This data highlights significant regional differences in the recovery of inbound tourism. The rise in demand for travel from South Korea and Taiwan is driving the overall growth of Japan’s tourism market. On the other hand, in the Chinese market, easing visa and travel restrictions will be key to further growth. The U.S. market, while showing long-term recovery trends, may have been influenced by seasonal factors in the short term.
Going forward, it will be important to maintain and expand tourism demand in regions that are already performing well, while implementing targeted promotional efforts in regions where recovery has been slower. By doing so, the gaps in demand between regions can be narrowed, contributing to the development of a sustainable tourism market. Continued attention to tourism trends and the flexible implementation of strategies will be required.