Hopes for a further rebound in inbound tourists to pre-pandemic levels and beyond are being fueled by Japan's expected early next month termination of current COVID-19 border control procedures.
On May 8, the nation will change the coronavirus's legal classification and begin treating it similarly to the common flu.
It will no longer be necessary for incoming travelers to provide documentation proving they have had at least three vaccinations or a negative test result.
Prior to the implementation of COVID limits, inbound tourism had already established itself as a crucial component of Japan's economy, so its resurgence will likely be a welcome improvement.
In 2025, the government wants to see visitor expenditure increase to 200,000 yen ($1,490), up from roughly 160,000 yen before the outbreak.
Additionally, it hopes to entice international tourists to extend their vacations by spending more time in rural areas.
In 2019, they stayed for just one or two nights on average.
Short-term inbound tourism is anticipated to benefit from a cheaper yen and pent-up demand.
Industry analysts claim that in the long run, Japan has to place a greater emphasis on "quality" experiences, with some regions currently promoting culinary tourism.
Moreover, 4.79 million international visitors came to Japan in the first three months of 2023, returning to levels that are almost 60% higher than they were before the outbreak.
According to data provided by the Japanese government, people from South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Hong Kong, and the United States were primarily responsible for the recovery.
Meanwhile, the number of Chinese tourists, who once made up approximately a third of all visits to Japan, plummeted by 93.4 percent between January and March 2019 due to the fact that China still places restrictions on citizen-led group tours even though its severe zero-COVID policy no longer applies.
