Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

REPORTER: I have a question regarding the measures relating to foreign visitors to Japan. In your address earlier, you stated that the Government hopes to launch a council chaired by the Prime Minister in the near future for all ministries and agencies to make united efforts towards achieving the Government’s new target. Exactly what kind of a council are you envisioning?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, as you are all aware, the total number of foreign visitors to Japan from January to September increased by 49% from the previous year to 14.49 million people. In addition, as of October 9, the number exceeded 15 million people. Furthermore, their consumption amount increased by 82% from the same period of the previous year to over 1 trillion yen. During this year’s July-September quarter, consumption surpassed 1 trillion yen in a single quarter for the first time, setting a record high. The total from January to September was 2.5967 trillion yen and has already exceeded last year’s total. The Government’s target was to reach 20 million foreign visitors by 2020. However, if we do the calculations assuming that the current trend continues, we are already set to reach between 19.5 and 20 million people due to a range of factors, including the easing of visa requirements, the expansion of the list of duty-free items, the yen’s depreciation, the hard work put in by everyone in the tourism industry, the expedition of immigration procedures, and visit Japan PR efforts. In any case, given these circumstances, we are set to achieve the Government’s target to date of 20 million foreign visitors to Japan by 2020. For this reason, and looking to the era ahead, I believe we need to steadily establish such a council. In addition, we hope to ensure that the increase in the number of foreign visitors to Japan translates into the vitalization of local regions. Taking these factors into consideration, we hope to establish a government-wide council.

(Abridged)