International visitors to Japan in May 2016 totaled 1.89 million, but partially affected by Kumamoto Earthquake

Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) announced that international visitors to Japan in May 2016 increased by 15.3% year on year to 1,894,000, which were record-high for May. However, visitors from Korea resulted in year-on-year reduction for the first time since June 2014, affected by the Kumamoto Earthquake that happened in April 2016.

The table below shows international visitor results by month:

inbound_total_201605

The biggest international market was still China with 507,200 visitors (+30%), followed by Taiwan with 375,500 (+10.5%) and Korea with 302,100 (-4.2%). Visitors from India were record-high on a single month basis, and visitors from all of major 17 markets except Russia and Korea were record-high for May.

For the first five months of 2016, Japan received 2,494,200 from China (+45.3%), 2,035,600 from Korea (+29.8%) and 1,758,000 from Taiwan (+21.5%).

The table below shows visitor results by market:

jnto201606-1024x782

For June 2016, JNTO has forecasted that a shoulder season before a summer vacation period and part of negative influences from the Kumamoto Earthquake may cast a shadow on the inbound travel market. Meanwhile, the 99th Lions Clubs International Annual Convention in Fukuoka will welcome more than 10,000 participants from the world.

In Japanese

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