Japan rises in popularity as a Travel Destination

23 Feb 05

© Visit Japan Campaign

In his overview of 2004, Mr Toru Kawanishi, Director of Japan National Tourist Organisation London Office, highlighted the many factors which indicate that the Japanese government's Visit Japan Campaign (VJC) has led to a rise in Japan's popularity as a tourist destination. Statistics show that tourist arrivals to Japan increased by over 17.9% in 2004 compared to the previous year. Visitors from the UK for January to October 2004 were up by 8.4%.

Popular films like Lost in Translation and The Last Samurai have stimulated interest in Japan by showing international audiences the amazing vibrancy of Tokyo and Japan's impressive cultural heritage.

In 2004, the number of UK tour operators offering tours to Japan rose to over fifty. This number continues to increase and there is now a much greater variety of tours available, including special tours for gourmets and those interested in anime, cycling, hiking and birdwatching.

Last year Japan scored well in a number of prestigious travel awards, coming ninth in a poll of countries people would most like to visit in the Conde Nast Traveller Annual Awards, while Tokyo came in at number eight in the Guardian Observer Travel Award's favourite overseas city category. Japan was also the subject of special travel supplements in several major newspapers.

In FY 2005, VJC projects will focus on increasing support to the media and tour operators, as well as close co-ordination with the EU-Japan Year of People-to-People Exchanges.

*Link to JNTO London's website