Japanese outbound travel reaches 12-year high
Just over a year after the earthquakes and tsunami, the number of Japanese traveling abroad is up by 17.5 percent, the highest since 2000.
The country's Ministry of Justice reported that the number of Japanese traveling abroad during the first six months of the year increased by 17.5 percent to a total of 8,964,605 people, the highest figures since 2000. The announcement comes 18 months after a massive earthquake and a tsunami hit the country affecting the travel industry.
China is a major destination for Japanese tourists; the country last year welcomed more than 3,657,500 Japanese. During the first six months of the year, the number of Japanese tourists visiting China reached 1,878,200, 12 percent more than last year. The most popular destinations in China among Japanese tourists were Beijing (up by 19.7 percent) and Shanghai (up by 12.44 percent), both showing record numbers.
South Korea is the second most popular destination among Japanese with a total of 1,817,042 travelers visiting the country during the first semester of the year, an increase of 30 percent. The strong exchange rate of the Japanese yen against the Koren won, has made South Korea a must-visit destination.
South Korea is followed by Taiwan with a total of 719,465 visitors and Hong Kong with a total of 648,934 visitors.
