Public News
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JNTO Announcement: Record-Breaking Number of Inbound Visitors to Japan in September 2024! Year-to-Date Total Surpasses 2023’s Annual Total
(Based on JNTO materials) In September 2024, Japan welcomed 2,872,200 foreign visitors, marking a 31.5% increase compared to the same month last year and a 26.4% rise compared to September 2019. The number of visitors in September 2019 was 2,272,883, which means that the current figure has significantly surpassed pre-pandemic levels. This also marks the eighth consecutive month of record-breaking numbers. By the end of September, the total number of visitors for the year reached 26,880,200, exceeding the 25,066,350 total for all of 2023.
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JNTO Announcement: August 2024 Foreign Visitors to Japan Reach 2.93 Million, Setting Record for Seven Consecutive Months
According to JNTO, the number of foreign visitors to Japan in August 2024 reached 2,933,000, marking a 36% increase compared to the same month in the previous year and a 16.4% increase compared to August 2019. This result surpasses the pre-COVID-19 figure of 2,520,134 visitors in August 2019 by approximately 40,000 people, setting a record for the highest number of visitors for the same month for seven consecutive months. (Created based on JNTO data) The number of foreign visitors in August 2024 increased by about 780,000 compared to August 2023, recording a growth rate of 36%. It also showed a 16.4% increase compared to August 2019. However, when compared to July 2024, the number of visitors in August decreased by about 360,000. In previous years, a comparison of July and August data from 2023 and 2019 shows a trend where July tends to have more visitors, with a difference of approximately 170,000 and 40,000, respectively. In contrast, the difference of 360,000 in 2024 between July and August is notably large. Despite exceeding the numbers from previous years, the overall trend for 2024 shows a decline, indicating the need for continued adjustments in tourism policies and promotions to ensure stable visitor...
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【JNTO Announcement】Record-High Number of Inbound Visitors to Japan in July 2024: Major Markets, Led by China, Show Steady Recovery
According to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), the number of inbound visitors to Japan in July 2024 reached 3,292,500, marking a 41.9% increase compared to the same month last year and a 10.1% increase compared to July 2019. This result surpasses the 2,991,189 visitors recorded in July 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, by approximately 300,000, setting a new record for the second consecutive month. The cumulative number of inbound visitors to Japan up until July 2024 has reached 21,069,900, surpassing the 20 million mark at the fastest pace ever recorded.
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Kyoto City: Utilizing a 100-Year-Old Kyomachiya as Lodging Facility and Company Housing
Since the 2020 fiscal year, the city of Kyoto has been implementing the "Kyomachiya Rental Model Project." This initiative involves leasing traditional Kyoto townhouses (Kyomachiya) from their owners and subleasing them to private businesses for renovation and use. The project aims to leverage private sector resources to preserve and utilize these historic buildings. Recently, a more than 100-year-old Kyomachiya in Shimogyo Ward has been selected as the third project under this model. It will be renovated and used as a combined lodging facility and company housing.
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JNTO Announcement: Record-High June with 3,135,600 Foreign Visitors to Japan
According to a JNTO announcement, the number of foreign visitors to Japan in June 2024 was 3,135,600, marking a 51.2% increase from the same month last year and an 8.9% increase compared to June 2019. This figure exceeds the 2,880,041 visitors in June 2019 by more than 250,000. Additionally, the cumulative number of foreign visitors in the first half of the year reached 17,777,200, surpassing the previous record high of the first half of 2019 by over one million.
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“Yakushima AI Chatbot” Trial Implementation Begins: New Age Travel Support for Domestic and International Tourists
The Yakushima Academy, a general incorporated association, is currently conducting a trial project for a new travel support tool, the "Yakushima AI Chatbot," as part of the "Model Project for Creating a Sustainable Cycle for Sustainable Tourism (Demonstration Project)" by the Tourism Agency. This chatbot incorporates feedback from local guides and tourists, adapting to and learning from tourists' questions and needs. The aim is to create a system nurtured by both tourists and locals, offering a satisfying travel experience through personalized information provision.