Foreign arrivals to Kyushu’s seven prefectures reached a record 478,605 in January, up 1.5% year on year, according to the Kyushu Transport Bureau. The increase came despite a sharp 83.3% drop in visitors from China to 15,939, reflecting suspended flights and reduced cruise operations. Cruise passenger arrivals fell 98.9% to 670 due to cancellations linked to travel restraint requests. In contrast, arrivals from South Korea rose 29.1% to 324,159 and from Taiwan increased 34.3% to 77,116, supported by new routes and resumed services. Preliminary figures for March showed an 8.3% rise to 444,257 visitors. Officials said uncertainty over Chinese demand remains and stressed attracting tourists from a broader range of markets. Source: Nikkei / Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Kyushu
Photo: Fukuoka Now (For image purposes only)
Stay informed with the latest Fukuoka & Kyushu news and events in English. Sign up for our free weekly newsletter today and never miss a beat. Opt out anytime, your privacy is our priority. Get the inside scoop with The Now
Summaries based on public content, errors may occur during translation. Images credited independently. Send feedback using this form.