Earthquake takes a toll on Japan inbound

JAPAN registered a sharp decline in international arrivals in 2011, which can be attributed to the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, as well as the ensuing nuclear crisis.

According to the latest figures from Japan National Tourism Organisation, international arrivals fell from 8.6 million in 2010, to 6.2 million in 2011, a dip of 27.8 per cent.

Top ten source markets to Japan (2007-2011)top-ten-source-markets-to-japan-2007-2011
Source: JNTO                                                                                                   Unit: 10,000

Singapore contributed 111,300 visitors to Japan in 2011, a 38.5-per cent drop from 2010’s 180,000. For the month of December, usually the peak period for the Singapore market, there was a 37.8 per cent decline, with 22,900 arrivals compared to 36,827 in 2010.

Prior to the natural disaster, Japan had experienced robust growth in Singapore arrivals, with an average increase of 20 per cent annually from 2006-2010, except in 2009 during the H1N1 influenza outbreak.

Meanwhile, Japan’s top North Asia market, South Korea, registered a 32-per cent drop in 2011 over the previous year, while strong recovery was evident in Hong Kong and China during fourth quarter 2011.

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