Japan welcomed 2.79 million visitors in February, a record for the month and the most for any month since the Covid-19 pandemic began, boosted by travel during Lunar New Year holidays.
The number of foreign visitors for business and leisure was up from 2.69 million in January, data from the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) showed on Tuesday.
Arrivals in February were 7.1 per cent higher than in 2019, when the Lunar New Year also fell in the second month of the year rather than the first. For all of 2019, Japan welcomed a record 31.9 million visitors before the pandemic struck.
Tourism to Japan all but stopped for more than two years during the pandemic. Since then, the industry has received a major boost from a weak yen that has made Japan a bargain destination for foreign travellers.
Current account data in January showed a record gain attributable to inbound tourism, illustrating the sector’s widening role in the economy. Visitors spent more than 5 trillion yen (USD 33.3 billion) in the country last year for the first time, exceeding the government’s goal.
Just before the onset of the summer travel season, India and Thailand last week finalised an agreement that will allow airlines to deploy more flights between the two countries. In a meeting in Bangkok, the countries agreed to increase capacity by 14,000 seats per week for both sides which is an increase by 43 per cent.
Travellers from 19 of 23 countries and territories, including South Korea and the United States, set records for February, the JNTO said. Japan is the top destination for travellers from 12 countries on Agoda’s online booking platform, said Agoda Chief Executive Omri Morgenshtern.
“Demand for Japan is very strong,” Morgenshtern said. “I assume, overall, you will see 2024 in the 2019 levels or slightly above.”
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Foreign exchange remittances for the first 10 months of FY24 stood at USD 27.4 billion, crossing the FY23 level of USD 27.1 billion. This is despite the introduction of tax collection at source (TCS) in the Budget.
With average monthly remittances in FY24 touching USD 2.7 billion, the total foreign exchange sent abroad under the liberalised remittance scheme (LRS) is set to cross USD 30 billion during the current financial year, setting a new record.
Outward remittances rose during Jan 2024 to USD 2.6 billion from USD 2.4 billion in Dec, owing to a surge in spending on foreign education. Despite govt introducing TCS from Oct 2023, forex spending is increasing to earlier levels. For instance, the Jan forex spending by Indians was 3.5 per cent lower than the USD 2.7 billion in Jan 2023, before the TCS imposition.
Within total forex remittances, spending on travel in Jan at USD 1.54 billion was unchanged compared to Dec 2023. The figure was, however, higher than USD 1.49 billion in the year-ago period. Dealers said the Jan travel was also linked to students travelling overseas for education.
Looking ahead, the Amadeus research outlines the top priority technologies for both 2024 and 2029, with machine learning, data analytics, and cloud computing emerging as perennial favourites across all sectors. The findings emphasize a collective industry vision towards harnessing the power of technology to drive innovation and efficiency in the years to come.
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Japan welcomed 2.79 million visitors in February, a record for the month and the most for any month since the Covid-19 pandemic began, boosted by travel during Lunar New Year holidays.
The number of foreign visitors for business and leisure was up from 2.69 million in January, data from the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) showed on Tuesday.
Arrivals in February were 7.1 per cent higher than in 2019, when the Lunar New Year also fell in the second month of the year rather than the first. For all of 2019, Japan welcomed a record 31.9 million visitors before the pandemic struck.
Tourism to Japan all but stopped for more than two years during the pandemic. Since then, the industry has received a major boost from a weak yen that has made Japan a bargain destination for foreign travellers.
Current account data in January showed a record gain attributable to inbound tourism, illustrating the sector’s widening role in the economy. Visitors spent more than 5 trillion yen (USD 33.3 billion) in the country last year for the first time, exceeding the government’s goal.
Just before the onset of the summer travel season, India and Thailand last week finalised an agreement that will allow airlines to deploy more flights between the two countries. In a meeting in Bangkok, the countries agreed to increase capacity by 14,000 seats per week for both sides which is an increase by 43 per cent.
Travellers from 19 of 23 countries and territories, including South Korea and the United States, set records for February, the JNTO said. Japan is the top destination for travellers from 12 countries on Agoda’s online booking platform, said Agoda Chief Executive Omri Morgenshtern.
“Demand for Japan is very strong,” Morgenshtern said. “I assume, overall, you will see 2024 in the 2019 levels or slightly above.”
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The US Embassy in India has seen a significant increase in tourist visa adjudications this year according to recent remarks by a senior embassy official. In Fiscal Year 2023, the embassy adjudicated over 700,000 tourist visa applications, an 185 per cent increase from the previous year.
Highlighting the immense scale of operations, the consulate officer revealed that the US embassy, along with its four consulates, constitutes the second-largest consular operation globally, following Mexico. With a total staff of almost 350, the embassy’s workforce has expanded significantly, indicating a concerted effort to manage the increasing demand for visa services.
“We had over 700,000 adjudications in 2023 representing a remarkable 185 per cent increase compared to the previous year. Moreover, India ranks as the largest source of work and student visas globally, further underscoring US’s significance in the visa landscape,” the officer stated.
This makes it the highest single year volume for tourist visas ever processed in India. The official noted they expect the volume to surpass the previous record of 745,000 applications set in 2018.
“I think this year we might actually surpass that we hit records and everything else we do,” the officer said.
While tourist visas make up over 50 per cent of the embassy’s total visa workload, the official stressed they prioritise other visa categories like work and student visas as per US law. However, they have increased staffing levels by over a third to handle the growing demand.
In terms of overall tourist numbers, Indonesia welcomed a staggering 11.67 million visitors in 2023, almost double the number in 2022. Bali alone received 5.23 million visitors, accounting for nearly half of Indonesia’s total tourism arrivals. To boost arrivals from India, plans for Vistara direct flights from Bombay and strengthening Delhi departures are in the pipeline.
To address the surge in demand, the embassy has implemented measures to enhance efficiency and reduce wait times. Despite technical challenges, such as the transition to a new appointment system, efforts to streamline the process have yielded positive results. Notably, wait times have decreased by 75 per cent over the past year, with further improvements expected in the future.”Our wait times have dropped by 75 per cent in the last year. There were over 1000 days in December of 2022 and now they range low to hundreds to around four now,” he stated.
One significant change involves preventing the hoarding of appointment slots by visa travel agents, ensuring fair access to all applicants. This has contributed to a more equitable distribution of appointments and reduced instances of exploitation.
However, the officer acknowledged the ongoing challenges posed by India’s vast population and the corresponding demand for visas. While the embassy remains committed to addressing these challenges, resource limitations necessitate a strategic approach to managing visa operations effectively.
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Kerala has set a new record in domestic tourist arrivals in 2023 with 2.18 crore tourist footfalls, a 15.92 per cent increase from the previous year, Minister for Tourism and Public Works P A Mohamed Riyas said on Monday. In 2022, Kerala witnessed 1,88,67,414 domestic tourist footfalls.
Significantly, domestic tourist arrivals recorded an increase of 18.97 per cent compared to 2019, the minister told a press conference here.
In 2023, Ernakulam district witnessed the highest influx of domestic tourists with 44,87,930 visitors, followed by Idukki (36,33,584), Thiruvananthapuram (35,89,932), Thrissur (24,78,573), and Wayanad (17,50,267).
The state also witnessed a healthy increase in international tourist arrivals with 6,49,057 visitors in 2023, as compared to 3,45,549 tourists in 2022, indicating a remarkable growth of 87.83 per cent.
Ernakulam district was visited by 2,79,904 tourists from abroad, followed by Thiruvananthapuram (1,48,462), Idukki (1,03,644), Alappuzha (31,403), and Kottayam (28,458).
Under both mild and severe scenarios, it is projected that by the end of 2024, South Asia will attract 25 million and 60 million visitors, respectively. On the other end, India’s attractiveness to tourists is expected to improve by 2026. Prof Haiyan Song, Research Head at PATA, and Dean of Hospitality and Tourism at Hong Kong Polytechnic University shares more insights.
“This is a testament to Kerala Tourism’s vigorous efforts based on well-crafted policy initiatives and meticulously implemented promotional strategies within and outside the country,” Riyas said. As for the number of visitors from abroad, the minister pointed out that despite a significant uptick, it was still 45.45 per cent lower when compared to international tourist arrivals before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Though there has been a steady increase in the arrival of foreign tourists, which was adversely impacted by the pandemic, it will take some more time to reach the pre-pandemic level, he said.
“The conflicts in some parts of the world also affect international tourism. Despite these challenges, there has been good progress in foreign tourist footfalls in Kerala. Adventure tourism events planned for this year will help us regain much of the lost ground. We are also working on plans to attract more tourists to the Malabar region,” the minister added.
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Sri Lanka‘s tourism sector soared to new heights in 2023, surpassing the USD 2 billion milestone in earnings and witnessing a remarkable surge in Indian visitors. As Sri Lanka emerges as a premier tourist destination, the island nation’s strategic partnership with India remains pivotal in driving mutual prosperity and cultural exchange through tourism.The recent conclusion of Sri Lanka Tourism‘s inaugural Business Networking event for 2024 in India, held in Mumbai and Delhi, served as a testament to the robust growth and resilience of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry. The events, attended by over 300 participants including industry leaders, travel agents, and industry stakeholders, underscored the shared commitment to fostering stronger ties between Sri Lanka and India in the tourism sector.
Highlighting the surge in Indian tourists visiting Sri Lanka, the events celebrated the doubling of Indian visitors from 13,759 in January of the previous year to 34,399 in January 2024. This exponential growth was attributed to enhanced connectivity between the two countries, with 95 flights connecting Sri Lanka to nine Indian cities, ensuring seamless travel experiences and smooth transactions facilitated by India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
Addressing the audience at the Mumbai event, Harin Fernando, Sri Lanka’s Minister for Tourism, Lands, Sports, and Youth Affairs, expressed gratitude to India for its steadfast support in Sri Lanka’s tourism development journey. Minister Fernando highlighted Sri Lanka’s remarkable economic transformation and ambitious goal of attracting 2.5 million tourists in 2024, buoyed by the strong momentum witnessed in early 2024 with over 48,000 tourist arrivals in the first six days of February.
Reflecting on the enduring partnership between Sri Lanka and India, Kshenuka Senewiratne, the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in New Delhi, emphasised the need for enhanced cooperation and connectivity between the two nations. Recent discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ranil Wickremesinghe underscored the strength of the partnership, with India’s support instrumental during economic challenges.
Sri Lanka has rolled out infrastructure development projects and innovative tourism promotion programmes in a bid to attract high-end tourists, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said. During the tour, the President Ranil Wickremesinghe visited several tourist hotels, talking with owners to understand their challenges first hand, the PMD added.
Dr Valsan Kumaran Vethody, the Consul General of Sri Lanka in Mumbai, stressed the importance of people-to-people connectivity in strengthening bilateral relations. With tourism serving as a bridge between cultures, Dr Vethody highlighted the potential for deeper collaboration in the tourism sector to fully harness the economic value of India’s vast tourism market.Looking ahead, Sri Lanka’s tourism sector is poised for continued growth and innovation, with ambitious targets set for tourist arrivals and plans for new infrastructure. Initiatives to promote sustainable tourism practices and preserve cultural heritage underscore Sri Lanka’s commitment to long-term industry success.
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Japan welcomed more than 2 million visitors for an eighth consecutive month in January, official data showed on Wednesday, setting the stage for a potential record year for tourism.
The number of foreign visitors for business and leisure was 2.69 million last month, down slightly from 2.73 million in December, data from the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) showed.
Arrivals in December were an all-time high for that month and capped a pandemic recovery year that saw a little more than 25 million visitors enter the country.
Tourism to Japan all but halted for more than two years during the COVID-19 pandemic. But the industry was dealt a major tailwind last year by rapid depreciation in the yen that made Japan a bargain compared to many destinations.
Inbound tourism is an increasingly important part of Japan’s economy, and visitors spent more than 5 trillion yen ($33.32 billion) last year for the first time, exceeding the government’s goal.
Arrivals in January were impacted by the major earthquake on Jan. 1 in the western prefecture of Ishikawa, JNTO said, though the number was on par with the level in 2019 when Japan welcomed a record 39.9 million tourists.
Chinese travellers flocked to tourist hot-spots across Asia over the Lunar New Year break, with visitor numbers and spending in destinations including Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia exceeding pre-COVID levels. Visa-free access for Chinese tourists to the Southeast Asia countries boosted traffic and signalled a robust revival in travel since Beijing lifted strict COVID restrictions in early 2023.
Travellers from South Korea, Taiwan, and Australia set an all-time record for any single month. Tourism from China is still far below pre-pandemic levels, when mainland travellers made up nearly a third of all visitors and 40 per cent of tourist spending. But there are signs of life in the segment.
Chinese visitors numbered 415,900 in January, up 33 per cent from the previous month. And department store operators Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings and J Front Retailing said the Lunar New Year contributed to strong sales of luxury goods and duty-free items in the first half of February.
Chinese visitors may be opting for more leisurely travel this year, a trend known as “chill stay,” as opposed to rushed shopping splurges seen in years past, said Teppei Kawanishi, general manager at travel industry consultancy Honichi Lab.
“The style is to go around one sightseeing spot slowly and enjoy it like the locals,” he added.
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Following the inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, online travel agencies (OTAs) are riding a wave of optimism as they anticipate a substantial surge in tourism. The preliminary data indicates a remarkable 70 per cent increase in bookings, signifying a potential transformation for Ayodhya’s economic landscape.
Dhruv Shringi, CEO & Whole-Time Director of Yatra Online, addressed the surge in interest surrounding Ayodhya. He pointed out the current trend of spiritual tourism gaining momentum in India, accentuated by the grand inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
Yatra, he shared, has noted a significant 70 per cent surge in booking queries from December to January for the city, underscoring heightened interest in this historic event.
“We have also noticed that the daily searches for Ayodhya have skyrocketed by four times in January as compared to December last year,” he told ETTravelWorld.
“The surge in Ayodhya’s visitors post the Ram Mandir’s opening will truly be remarkable and will bear substantial implications for the city and its surroundings,” Shringi further emphasised. The ripple effect is expected to extend beyond the religious context, positively impacting small businesses and contributing to the overall economic growth of the region, he added.
Cleartrip also corroborates this trend, reporting a 32 per cent surge in air bookings to Ayodhya on its online travel platform. Prahlad Krishnamurthi, Chief Business Officer at Cleartrip noted a threefold increase in searches for flights, coupled with a twofold spike in hotel searches.
“The prices for hotels have spiked by 60 per cent, while flight fares have increased by 10 per cent compared to the first week of Jan 2024,” added Krishnamurthi.
Further, Yatra has also reported a surge in demand for spiritual destinations, with Varanasi, Puri, Amritsar, Tirupati, and Shirdi experiencing notable increases in bookings, reflecting a broader trend of travellers, notably young, wanting to explore spiritual facets along with their journeys.
Most travellers staying in Lucknow, preferring Ayodhya via road
Up to 500,000 devotees were anticipated to flock to Ayodhya on January 22, resulting in fully booked hotels with skyrocketing room tariffs. This resulted in a few travellers exploring local alternatives, just a few kilometers from Ram Janmabhoomi and even accommodations in nearby cities like Lucknow.
“Currently, most travellers going to Ayodhya are staying in Lucknow which is just a four-to-five-hour commute away from Ayodhya via road,” revealed Shringi.
redBus, offering 339 daily services, said it has experienced a remarkable 120 per cent surge in demand for travel to Ayodhya compared to the same period last year. Catering to passengers from various states, redBus collaborates with both RTCs and private bus operators, including UPSRTC, which handles around 80 per cent of the bus passenger traffic.
He noted that while hotel infrastructure is not yet fully developed in Ayodhya, significant improvements are underway. “We expect that within the next 2 -3 years, several large hotel chains will set up their hotels in Ayodhya.”
A recent report by the global brokerage firm Jefferies also reveals significant business developments in the hotel and hospitality sector of the city. Major players such as IHCL, Marriott International, Wyndham, and ITC Hotels have already signed deals for new properties in Ayodhya. OYO also plans to add 1000 hotel rooms, further enhancing Ayodhya’s accommodation infrastructure.
Report forecasts economic impact and business opportunities
In the Jefferies report based on the tourism boom in Ayodhya, a monumental economic impact from the surge in tourism is anticipated. The grand opening of the Ram temple is projected to make Ayodhya a new tourist hotspot, potentially attracting over 5 crore tourists annually, the report mentioned.
Jefferies’ report also outlines a USD 10 billion makeover plan, encompassing a new airport, revamped railway station, township development, and improved road connectivity. This initiative is expected to fuel a multiplier effect, spawning new hotels and diverse economic activities, setting a template for infra-driven growth in tourism.
Within the realm of travel service providers, airlines are also swiftly responding to the rising demand. IndiGo, Air India, Spicejet, and Akasa Air have all announced direct flights connecting Ayodhya with multiple cities. The Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is facilitating travel with specially designed tour packages to Ayodhya, as per the report.
As the city braces for an influx of visitors, Ayodhya stands at the cusp of a transformative period, propelled by the opening of Ram Mandir and the promising surge in tourism.
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Japan welcomed a record number of visitors in December, official data showed on Wednesday, closing out a year of rapid recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The number of foreign visitors for business and leisure rose to 2.73 million last month from 2.44 million in November, data from the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) showed.
It was the highest-ever number of tourists for the month of December and about 8 per cent higher than the pre-pandemic level seen in 2019.
For the full-year 2023, a little more than 25 million visitors arrived in Japan, the agency said.
Tourism to Japan all but halted for more than two years during the pandemic as the country put up some of the world’s strictest border controls. But arrivals bounced back quickly after the government resumed visa-free travel for many countries in October 2022.
Arrivals exceeded 2 million every month since June last year, boosted by a weakening in the yen that makes Japan cheaper compared to other destinations.
Visitors this year are likely to break 2019’s record of 31.9 million, but tourist spending last year may have already reached the government’s goal of 5 trillion yen ( USD33.81 billion), said Teppei Kawanishi, general manager at travel industry consultancy mov Honichi Lab.
Average spending per visitor is about 30 per cent higher than before the pandemic, driven in part by repeat travellers from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and other parts of Asia, Kawanishi said.
“Spending levels are very high nowadays,” he added.
The number of passengers on domestic and international routes exceeded 100 million in 2023, accounting for 81.5 per cent of 123 million recorded in 2019 before the pandemic hit the airline industry, Yonhap News Agency reported citing data from the Ministry. Of international routes, increased travel demand to Japan, Europe and the US helped offset lackluster demand to China last year, the data showed.
December saw record arrivals for any single month among people from Hong Kong, Singapore, and Australia, the JNTO said. That is helping to compensate for a slow recovery in visitors from mainland China, who made up nearly a third of all visitors and 40 per cent of all tourist spending in Japan in 2019. The number of Chinese travellers in December was still 56 per cent below pre-pandemic levels.
Inbound tourism has become a key part of Japan’s economic recovery, but a severe shortage of workers is hobbling the sector’s ability to keep up with demand.
“The industry cannot cope,” said Wanping Aw, managing director of boutique travel agency TokudAw that specialises in private car tours of Japan. “Experienced personnel are burnt out and overworked and have no time to train staff.”
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The US Embassy in India has achieved a significant milestone by processing more visa applications in 2023 than in any previous year, according to an official announcement earlier this week. The surge in demand is attributed to various categories, including students, workers, and tourists.
In a social media post on its official handle on X, formerly Twitter, the US Embassy expressed the accomplishment and conveyed that the Consular Team is gearing up to serve thousands of students, workers, tourists, and more in the upcoming weeks, coinciding with the busy holiday travel season. The post also extended wishes for safe travels to all applicants.
This heightened demand for visas follows the US Embassy’s extraordinary issuance of 90,000 student visas during the summer months of July and August. Notably, this meant that nearly one in four student visas issued globally during this period was granted to Indian applicants.
The embassy has also made substantial strides in reducing wait times for first-time tourist visa interviews, achieving a reduction of over 50 per cent. In 2023, the Embassy had set a target to process at least one million visas, underscoring the increasing ties between India and the United States.
The decision to resume e-visas is specific to tourism and business purposes for Canadian nationals. It is noteworthy that India had previously restored visas under four of the 13 categories that were suspended in September, showcasing a gradual normalisation of visa services between the two countries. The Indian tourism industry has welcomed the move saying it is a sigh of relief during the current inbound tourist season.
To address the escalating demand, the US is taking proactive measures, including augmenting staff strength and establishing new consulates. US Ambassador Eric Garcetti confirmed this, stating that a consulate has recently opened in Hyderabad, and efforts are underway to explore premises for new consulates in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad. He mentioned that the huge volume of applications was a key factor contributing to delays in visa processing, a challenge shared by other major nations such as Brazil and Mexico.Garcetti acknowledged the recent one-third increase in the number of US visas issued in India and anticipates issuing 10-15 per cent more visas than usual in the current calendar year. The move to open additional consulates aligns with the embassy’s commitment to enhance efficiency and expedite the visa issuance process for Indian applicants.
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