TOKYO, Aug 20 (KUNA) -- The number of foreign visitors to Japan surged 26.6 percent in July from a year earlier, thanks to increased international flights at Tokyo's Haneda Airport and more charter flights from Asian countries, the government said on Wednesday.
An estimated 1.27 million foreigners arrived in Japan last month on sightseeing or business, a record high for a single month, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.
Among the countries, the number of Chinese travelers doubled year-on-year to 281,200, the tourism bureau said. Visitors from Taiwan jumped 17.1 percent to 279,300. In the January-July period, record 7.53 million foreign tourists visited Japan.
Last year, Japan received 10.4 million foreign travelers, achieving the government target of annual 10 million for the first time, thanks to a weaker yen and the effect of easier visa requirements for Southeast Asian tourists. The government aims to double the number of international visitors to 20 million by the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and then triple it by 2030 to boost Japan's economy. (end)
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