Statistics released by Japan Tourism Agency for year-to-date September 2017 indicate that both tourist arrivals and expenditure are expected to set a new record in 2017.

Over the first three quarters, tourist arrivals for the nation has surpassed 20 million. With the boom in tourist arrivals, tourist expenditure over the same period has increased at similar pace and recorded ¥3.28 trillion (US$29.1 billion). 

Compared to the third quarter of 2016, tourist arrivals in 2017 increased 17.9 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y), achieving a total of 21,196,400. Meanwhile, over the same period, total spending increased 26.7 per cent y-o-y to record ¥1.23 trillion, while average spend per person increased 6.6 per cent y-o-y. 

Chinese and Taiwanese tourists are the two top spenders in Japan, accounting for ¥543.2 billion and ¥149 billion respectively. 

Spending by South Koreans recorded the most significant increase of 49.9 per cent y-o-y, making them the third largest spender, at ¥136.1 billion. Japan is targeting an annual arrival of 40 million tourists, with total expenditure of ¥8 trillion, by 2020. 

www.hvs.com