The estimated number of foreign visitors to Japan in March dropped 93.6% from a year earlier to 12,300 as travel restrictions remain in place to prevent the further spread of the novel coronavirus, government data showed Wednesday.

The year-on-year number marked the 18th consecutive month of decline, though it did rise 4,900 from February, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.

The month-on-month increase is apparently due to the arrival of those permitted to enter the country under “special exceptional circumstances” such as exchange students ahead of the new academic year, as well as partners of Japanese nationals.

Compared to March 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic swept across the world, the number of visitors who visited Japan plunged 99.6%.