Australian visitors to Japan picking up
SYDNEY – Australian arrivals to Japan during November and December 2009 have increased 20.7 percent and 9.4 percent, respectively on 2008 figures, according to a report released by the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO).
Total Australian arrivals for November 2009 numbered 17,300 compared with 14,334 in November 2008, and for December 2009 were 24,200 compared with 22,114 in December 2008.
The JNTO report said a number of factors, including the steady appreciation of the Australian dollar against the yen, an increase in online media promotions targeting the Australian market, and the Visit Japan Year 2010 Campaign marketing effort which was launched in late November 2009, are seen to have contributed to the increase in Australians travelling to Japan.
“We have seen a strong increase in visitors to Japan since last September,†said JNTO Sydney office executive director Yukio Yamashita.
“That’s a good sign for 2010 which is the Visit Japan Campaign’s target year for attracting 10 million international visitors.â€
Total Australian arrivals for the January to December 2009 period reached only 211,600 – a decrease of 12.6 percent on 2008 figures: though, a good result considering 2009’s economic climate, according to the JNTO Sydney office.
Australia has retained its position as the sixth major Japan inbound market for the third year running, with its position currently ahead of the UK, Thailand, Canada and Singapore and behind South Korea, Taiwan, China, USA and Hong Kong.
The figures released by JNTO are based on arrivals of Australian passport holders and include business, leisure and stopover visitors.
Ian Jarrett
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