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Thursday, July 20, 2017, 11:45
Big-spending HK tourists flock to Japan
By Lin Wenjie
Thursday, July 20, 2017, 11:45 By Lin Wenjie

Tourists stroll in front of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Aug 8, 2016. The number of Hong Kong tourists to Japan rose 20.7 percent year on year to reach a new high of 1.84 million last year, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization. (Toru Yamanaka / AFP)

Hong Kong – Japan has always been a favorite destination for Hong Kong tourists. 

At this year’s travel-themed Hong Kong Book Fair the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) announced that the number of Hong Kong tourists to Japan rose 20.7 percent year on year to reach a new high of 1.84 million last year, with spending at HK$1,773 per day, the highest among all foreign tourists to Japan.

The visitor count means there was one visit to Japan for every four Hong Kong people last year. Osaka for the first time overtook Tokyo as the most popular destination for Hong Kong tourists.

In the first five month of this year 880,000 Hong Kong tourists visited Japan, 25 percent higher than in the same period last year. 

Repeat visitors from Hong Kong to Japan also topped the world last year – 22.1 percent of Hong Kong tourists visited Japan more than 10 times and 8.6 percent of Hong Kong tourists went to Japan more than 20 times in a year.

"I was surprised to be told that some Hong Kong ladies frequently visit beauty salons in Japan just to get their hair and nails done. Needless to say, Japan is very attractive to Hong Kong people,” said Hiroshi Yakumaru, executive director of the JNTO Hong Kong Office.

The purchasing power of Hong Kong tourists remains strong, with a high average spending of 160,230 yen (HK$11,175) per visit. An average stay of 6.3 days means the average Hong Kong tourist to Japan spends HK$1,773 each day.

"This is solid evidence showing that Hong Kong consumers are willing to spend money on Japan’s high quality products and services. Hong Kong market is one of the most important markets in the world for Japan,” Yakumaru said.

cherrylin@chinadailyhk.com

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