Society

Foreign visitors to Japan down 99.9 percent in April

May 21 (NHK) - The number of foreign visitors to Japan plunged by 99.9 percent in April from a year ago due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Japan National Tourism Organization estimates that only 2,900 foreigners visited last month. The figure marks a seventh consecutive monthly decline and is the lowest since the government began keeping data in 1964, the year of the previous Tokyo Olympics.

It's also the first time the monthly total has dropped below 10,000.

There were around 300 visitors each from South Korea, Taiwan and the United States, and 200 each from China and Vietnam. Fewer than 10 visitors came from Germany, Italy and Singapore, respectively.

Japan currently bans the entry of citizens of 100 countries and territories as part of its measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The government is requesting all incoming travelers including Japanese nationals to isolate themselves for two weeks after arrival.

Source: ANNnewsCH

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