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Visitors to Japan plunge 99.9 percent for 3 months in row

Jul 16, 2020 (NHK) - The number of foreign visitors to Japan in June plunged 99.9 percent from a year earlier due to the coronavirus, extending a record decline for three months in a row.

The Japan National Tourism Organization estimates that only 2,600 foreign tourists visited last month. In the same month last year, 2.88 million foreign travelers visited the country.

The number of overseas visitors has fallen below 3,000 and dropped by 99.9 percent for each of the three months through June.

By country and region, 300 visitors came from China, 100 each from South Korea, Vietnam and the United States. The number from Singapore, Mexico and Italy fell below 10 for each country.

Most of the estimated travelers for June are believed to be foreign residents in Japan, such as students and technical trainees, who re-entered the country.

The government currently denies the entry of foreign nationals from 129 countries and regions due to the spread of the coronavirus. No prospect is in sight for the number to pick up anytime soon.

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