By APD writer Alice

Japan welcomed nearly 2.5 million foreign visitors in October, down from 2.64 million from a year ago, according to the Japan Tourism Agency.

It also marked the largest percentage drop in international arrivals to Japan in October in more than seven years with a 5.5 percent on-year fall, as a result of devastating Typhoon Hagibis, which made landfall on October 12, and a continued fall in South Korean tourists.

Last month, the number of South Koreans visiting Japan plunged 65.5 percent to 197,300 following a 58.1 percent drop in September and 48.0 percent tumble in August amid worsening ties between the two neighbours.

By country and region, China led with 730,600 visitors in October, up 2.1 percent, followed by Taiwan at 413,700, up 9 percent. South Korea was third and Hong Kong fourth with 180,600, up 6.6 percent.

In general, overseas visitors to Japan numbered more than 26.9 million in the first 10 months of the year, up 3.1 percent from the same period last year.

The Japanese government aims to increase the number of annual inbound visitors to 40 million by next year when the country hosts the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)