The number of foreign visitors to Japan in 2018 topped 30 million on Tuesday, marking an all-time record on an annual basis, as the country attracted a high proportion of travelers from its Asian neighbors, the Japan Tourism Agency said.
The figure, eclipsing the previous record of 28.69 million set in 2017, is expected to reach about 31 million by the end of the year, although the pace of increase slowed after a number of natural disasters, including earthquakes and torrential rain, hit the country this summer, agency officials said.
Japan is aiming to attract 40 million travelers in 2020, when Tokyo hosts the Olympic and Paralympic Games. To meet this target, the government has eased visa rules, expanded airports for budget airlines and promoted private lodging services to address a shortage of hotels.