TOKYO: The number of foreign visitors to Tokyo hit a record high of about 19.54 million in 2023, according to an estimate by the Tokyo metropolitan government.

The estimate shows visitor numbers for the capital have made a full recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and that spending by overseas visitors was up significantly from before the pandemic.

The total was calculated based on the number of foreign visitors to 735 tourism-related facilities, selected from throughout Tokyo, and 551 events, as well as a survey conducted with 11,327 overseas visitors at 43 locations in Tokyo.

According to the metropolitan government, the number of foreign visitors to Tokyo rose by 28.7 percent from about 15.18 million in 2019 before the pandemic.

Spending by inbound tourists was ¥2.76 trillion in 2023, up by 120 percent from ¥1.26 trillion in 2019. The depreciation of the yen is believed to have made travel to Japan more affordable, The Japan News reported, citing the official figures.

The Tokyo metropolitan government
has set a goal of attracting more than 30 million international tourists per year by 2030.

Source: Emirates News Agency