Japan, Foreign Visitors in March Down 94% YoY... "Impact of Korea and China Regulatory Measures"
![[Image source=AP Yonhap News]](http://www.asiae.co.kr/news/img_view.htm?img=2020041413380176300_1586839081.jpg)
[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] The number of foreign visitors to Japan last month was recorded at 152,000, showing a decrease of over 90% compared to the same month last year. Due to entry restrictions implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the number of visitors to Japan, mainly from Korea and China, has declined.
According to the provisional "Immigration Control Statistics" for March released by the Japan Immigration Services Agency on the 14th, the number of new foreign visitors to Japan last month was 152,000, a 93.9% decrease from 2,504,000 in March of the previous year.
By country, the number of visitors from China dropped from 546,000 in March last year to 3,700, and from Korea from 566,000 to 10,000, both decreasing by over 90%. The United States also saw a nearly 90% decrease compared to the same month last year, with 20,989 visitors, while Europe had 36,210 visitors, down 80% from a year ago.
The Japanese government has partially restricted entry for foreigners who stayed in Hubei and Zhejiang provinces in China, as well as Daegu city in Korea, since February. Last month, the list of restricted countries expanded to include 23 European countries and Iran. As a result, the number of new foreign visitors in February also dropped to 989,000, less than half compared to the same month last year. At that time, the number of Chinese visitors was only 10% of that from a year earlier.
Hot Picks Today
At President Lee's Call to "Give Enough to Shock," Whistleblower Rewards Become a Real Lottery
- If a Samsung Electronics Employee with a 100 Million Won Salary Receives a 600 Million Won Performance Bonus, Taxes Total 247.19 Million Won
- Lived as Family for Over 30 Years... Daughter-in-Law Cast Aside After Husband's Death
- "Who Is Visiting Japan These Days?" The Once-Crowded Tourist Spots Empty Out... What's Happening?
- Park Minshik Shaves Head: "I Will End Han Donghoon's Predatory and Parasitic Politics"... Ongoing Calls for Conservative Consolidation in Busan Buk-gu Gap within PPP
Within Japan, the decrease in new visitors has dealt a direct blow to the tourism industry. According to the February international balance of payments statistics published by the Japanese Ministry of Finance, the travel balance surplus, which includes consumption by visitors to Japan, was 57.9 billion yen, down 71% from the same month last year, marking the lowest level since September 2015, reported Nihon Keizai Shimbun.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
