Aussie numbers to Japan keep on rising

Aussie numbers to Japan keep on rising
By admin


Australian visitor numbers to Japan broke former records in 2013, with the Japan National Tourism Organisation hopeful the approach of the 2020 Olympics, to be hosted in Tokyo, will see that interest continue to rise.

The number of Aussies that visited the destination rose 18.5% on 2012 figures to hit 244,600 for the year, accounting for 2.4% of the total inbound market. This figure surpasses the previous record high of 242,031 visitors in 2008, and is the sign of a clear recovery for the destination which experienced a substantial decline in visitor numbers in the wake of the February 2011 earthquake.

A strong winter season and the weakening of the Japanese Yen against the Australian dollar made Japan an “attractive and cost effective” destination for Australian, according to the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO).

“Japan is a popular tourist destination for Australians and we are seeing increased repeat visits. Leading to the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, we will aim to continue achieving record high numbers and hope that more Aussies will visit Japan soon”, Hiroshi Kuwamoto, executive director of JNTO Sydney, said.

He was also hopeful that Jetstar’s new four times weekly direct service between Melbourne and Tokyo, to commence on April 29, would boost numbers by streamlining the journey for Victorian travellers.

Overall international visitor numbers climbed 24% on the previous year to total 10.4 million with a special ceremony held at Narita International Airport in December to mark the milestone.

Other achievements for the destination in 2013 included the addition of Mount Fuji to the UNESCO World Heritage list while Japanese cuisine was awarded a place on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

It was also the year of the Australia-Japan Tourism Exchange promoting bilateral exchange in the tourism industries of both countries. 

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