Visitors to Japan down 99.3% in February due to virus travel restrictions

The estimated number of overseas visitors to Japan in February fell 99.3% from a year earlier to 7,400 due to reintroduced travel restrictions on business travelers amid a surge in coronavirus cases, government data showed Wednesday.

The figure marked the 17th consecutive month of decline and sank below 10,000 for the first time since August last year, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.

Visitors from China totaled 1,700, down 98.1%. Those from South Korea dropped 99.4% to 900, with India down 90.9% at 600.

Japan partially eased entrance restrictions on people visiting the country for business purposes or long-term stays from last summer.

But following the government's declaration of a state of emergency in January for the Tokyo metropolitan area, which was later expanded to other parts of the country, the entry of overseas travelers has essentially been banned.

Data also showed that 24,800 Japanese nationals left the country last month, down 98.1% from a year before.