Japan welcomed its 10 millionth visitor for the year on December 20, 2013 at Narita International Airport. According to statistics released by Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) in early December, about 9.5 million visited the country as of the end of November, with the figure reaching 10 million visitors.

 In 2003, the Japanese government set a target of attracting 10 million visitors a year by 2010. Despite the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami, Japan has bounced back on track and was able to achieve its goal of reaching 10 million visitors per year. The previous annual record was 8.6 million in 2010.

On this occasion that Japan has welcomed 10 millionth visitor, Mr Ryoichi Matsuyama, the President of JNTO commented “as JNTO’s mission is to realize a tourism-based nation with expanded inbound tourism, it is our great pleasure to achieve our dream to have reached the goal today and we wish to offer our heartfelt appreciation to everyone who has helped us by sending visitors to Japan.”

He also added that with the 2020 Tokyo Olympic & Paralympic Games now just over 6 years away, the country is looking forward to further developing Japan’s tourism infrastructure and welcoming many more visitors to Japan in the coming years.

JNTO, www.japantravelinfo.com