Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I would like to slightly change the topic. The number of foreign visitors to Japan as of September 10 has exceeded 13.42 million, surpassing last year’s one-year total. At this point in time, the number is already a record high. The increasing trend has been maintained even as the Chinese stock market witnesses fluctuations. Can you please share your thoughts on this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, the number of foreign visitors to Japan this August increased by 64% from last August to 1.82 million, setting a record high for August. In addition, the total from January to August increased by 49% compared to the same period of the previous year to 12.88 million. Overall, a high number has been maintained. As you noted moments ago, it is known that as of September 10, the number has already exceeded 13.41 million, which was the number of foreigners who visited Japan over the course of last year. It has been confirmed that this year, the number of foreign visitors to Japan over the course of the full year will set a record high. With regard to China which you referred to earlier, you mentioned its fluctuating stock market. However, even just taking August, the number of Chinese visitors to Japan was more than double that of last year. In this light, we perceive that this result is a manifestation of not a temporary factor like fluctuations in the Chinese stock market, but the policies of Japan, which aims to become a Tourism-Oriented Country, and namely the initiatives that Japan has taken proactively since the inauguration of the Abe administration. These initiatives include the easing of visa requirements, the significant expansion of the duty-free system, the expansion of the air travel network, the acceleration of immigration procedures, and the sustained “Visit Japan” PR efforts. The Government will continue to make steady efforts. At the same time, we consider that the increasing number of foreign visitors to Japan has had very positive effects for realizing the economic growth and the vitalization of local economies that the Abe administration sets to achieve. In this regard, the Government will make steady efforts to ensure that the visitors to Japan also visit the local regions throughout Japan.