Aug 21 (NHK) - 20 million foreigners have visited Japan so far this year. It's the earliest in any year this milestone has been reached.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga revealed the new record to reporters on Monday in the town of Teshikaga in Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost prefecture.
Suga said the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has promoted tourism as a centerpiece of its strategy for regional revitalization and growth. He said that as a result, the number of foreign tourists topped 20 million last Wednesday. He said it's the fastest pace ever.
The Japan National Tourism Organization says the previous earliest record for 20 million visitors was September 15th last year.
Source: ANNnewsCH
