TOKYO: Japan’s tourism chief said on Thursday (Jun 20) its ambitious goal of luring 60 million foreign tourists a year – more than double the current level – is well within reach, despite surging overtourism concerns.
Japan last year attracted over 25 million tourists from abroad, in part buoyed by the lifting of pandemic-era border restrictions, from countries such as South Korea, Singapore and the United States.
Ichiro Takahashi, head of Japan’s tourism agency, acknowledged the previously announced target of 60 million remains “tough”, but stressed it is within the realm of possibility.
“It is a figure that we can very much achieve by making the right efforts”, Takahashi told a briefing in Tokyo.
“There are still many little-known places in Japan that are left unexplored by tourists from overseas – I belive Japan has infinite tourism resources,” Takahashi said.
Over three million foreign tourists visited Japan for a third consecutive month in May, according to government statistics released Wednesday.
But an influx of tourists to Japan has reignited concerns over overtourism in recent months, with local residents complaining of their sometimes unruly behaviour and etiquette breaches.
