TOKYO, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- The number of foreign visitors to Japan in August plummeted by 99.7 percent from a year ago due to the global COVID-19 outbreak, though showing a month-on-month pickup in volume, the government said in a report on Friday.
According to estimates by the Japan Tourism Agency, some 8,700 foreign travelers came to Japan in the last month. The figure is more than doubled from the July's estimated 3,800 and much higher than May's 1,663, the lowest figure since the government began compiling such statistics in 1964.
Still, the figure in August marked the 11th consecutive monthly decline since last October.
Currently, Japan continues to restrict in principle the entry of foreign nationals from 159 countries and regions. However, the restrictions have been loosened for those who hold residential status in the country.
Japan welcomed a record high of 31.88 million foreign visitors last year. The government had set a goal of 40 million inbound tourists for 2020, but has seen record falls in numbers. Enditem
