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Thursday, 24th October 2013
In Japan Travel News,
Foreign travel to Japan sees September surge
With Tokyo having been awarded the 2020 Olympics, the Japanese government is already considering ways to deal with the influx of tourists the city can expect over the next few years.
The rest of the world, however, isn't prepared to wait, it seems, with figures for foreign visitors to the country in September coming in at an all-time high, according to data released by the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) yesterday (October 23rd).
In particular, tourists from Hong Kong and Thailand proved particularly keen to explore the country, coming in at 55,400 and 29,300 visitors each, respectively.
It has been speculated that part of the reason for the influx is down to the decision of the Japanese government to waive foreign visas for tourists staying for up to 14 days, a measure that has been in effect since July.
However, rumours that visas might be waived for all Thai tourists were dismissed by the government.
In total, the number of foreign visitors to Japan increased by 31.7 per cent in comparison with the figures from last year, with the figure for September 2013 standing at 867,000.
With Tokyo set to be at the centre of the world stage for the Olympics, the number of tourists visiting the country will only rise in the run-up to 2020.
Home to a whole host of attractions, from its sprawling entertainment districts of Shinjuku, Roppongi and Shibuya to the quiet temples and shrines that populate Kyoto, it is little wonder so many people are choosing to spend their holidays here.
With each region exhibiting an atmosphere and culture that is quite unlike its neighbours, the nation is an absolute treat to discover, including fine food, unique tourist attractions and a desire to preserve the old while developing for the future that you won't find anywhere else.
Written by Mark Smith
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