How many times have you been? Taiwan sends 398,000 travelers to Japan in June, a record high

▲ Osaka. (Photo / Reporter Xie Tingting)

Reported by Chen Ruizhong / Comprehensive report

Japan’s National Tourism Organization released today (July 20) the statistics for June 2016 inbound tourist arrivals. The total number of visitors to Japan in June was 1.986 million, up 23.9% from 1.602 million in the same period last year, setting a new June record. Among them, the number of Taiwanese visitors reached 397,800, an increase of 15.2% compared to the same period last year, also marking the highest June figure on record.

Among all countries, Chinese visitors numbered 582,500, up 26% from the same period last year; Korean visitors were 347,400, up 38.1%; and both Hong Kong and the United States set new single-month records with 163,100 and 125,400 visitors respectively. As of June, Taiwan has sent 2,155,800 travelers to Japan, up 20.3% from 1,792,655 in 2015.

According to analysis by the Japan Tourism Agency, the record number of Taiwanese visitors in June this year was driven not only by increased demand for individual travel due to low-cost airlines, but also by the Dragon Boat Festival holiday and cruise ship stops in Okinawa, all of which contributed to higher visitor numbers. Additionally, the travel fair held in May included promotions targeting June travel. China Airlines resumed its Kaohsiung–Kumamoto route on June 3, and Tigerair Taiwan launched its Taipei–Sendai route on June 29, both of which served as additional incentives for travelers to visit Japan.