Consumption by tourists visiting Japan exceeds 5 trillion yen for the first time in history
Consumption increases due to the weakening yen and rising prices
Last year, tourist spending in Japan (preliminary figure) exceeded 5 trillion yen for the first time in history. It was found that among foreigners visiting Japan, Koreans accounted for the largest number.
According to the Yomiuri Shimbun and Asahi Shimbun on the 17th, the Japan Tourism Agency announced the consumption of foreigners visiting Japan in 2023.
Consumption by foreigners visiting Japan increased by 9.9% compared to 2019 before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic (global pandemic), reaching 5.2923 trillion yen (approximately 48.73 trillion won).
For the first time in history, the Japanese government’s target of 5 trillion yen was surpassed. The weakening yen and rising prices in Japan have increased consumption.
The average daily travel spending of foreigners visiting Japan was 212,000 yen (about 1.93 million won), an increase of 53,000 yen (about 480,000 won) from 2019.
Among the expenditures of foreigners visiting Japan, accommodation costs were the largest at 1.8289 trillion yen. It accounted for 34.6%. Shopping expenses were 1,395.4 billion yen (26.4%), meal expenses were 1,195.7 billion yen (22.6%), and transportation expenses were 602.4 billion yen (11.4%).
In 2019, shopping costs ranked first among expenditures. Asahi analyzed that the consumption structure has changed as the number of Chinese tourists, famous for ‘sweeping shopping,’ has decreased.
The number of foreigners visiting Japan last year (estimated value) announced by the Japanese Government Bureau on this day was 25,066,100, a 21.4% decrease compared to 2019. It surpassed 2016 and was recorded as the 4th largest in history.
In particular, looking by country, Koreans accounted for the largest number at 6,958,500. It increased by 24.6% compared to 2019.
Taiwan followed with 4,202,400 people. It decreased by 14.1% from 2019. In China, the number was 2.425 million when the ban on group travel to Japan was lifted in August last year. It decreased by 74.7% compared to 2019.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.