THE JAPAN NEWS
 

Jiji Press

TOKYO (Jiji Press) — The government said Wednesday it aims to double the annual number of foreign visitors to Japan to 40 million in 2020 from the current 20 million.

The new target was included in a vision compiled by a panel on tourism policy, chaired by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Under the vision, the government also projects ¥8 trillion in spending for 2020 by foreigners on accommodations, foods, beverages and other items, during their stays in Japan.

For 2030, the targets on the annual number of foreign visitors and spending by foreigners have been set at 60 million and ¥15 trillion, respectively.

“Tourism is one of the biggest pillars of our growth strategies and also a powerful card for regional revitalization,” Abe told a panel meeting.

“We’ve managed to adopt such an ambitious vision full of concrete policy measures.”

The panel also set new numerical targets to encourage foreigners to visit areas other than big cities. Japan now aims to nearly triple the annual number of foreigners’ overnight stays in regional areas to 70 million in 2020 from the 2015 level and to 130 million in 2030.