by Donald Wood
Last updated: 11:53 AM ET, Thu February 23, 2017
The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) has announced the country broke a new record with over 24 million visitors in 2016.
The JNTO said the number of tourists visiting Japan reached 24.04 million last year, a 2.4 percent increase. The new record is the largest number of tourists on record since the organization began keeping track in 1964.
The growth in 2016 marks the third consecutive year of tourism improvement, which the JNTO credits to international conferences and events held in Japan and increased promotional activities to attract tourists.
The tourism industry in Japan is also expecting a boom over the next several years with major sporting events, including the Rugby World Cup 2019 and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.
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To help travel agents sell the excitement and allure of a visit to Japan, the JNTO has set up the Japan On-line Media Center (JOMC) to help communicate the charms of the island nation.
The JOMC provides agents with approximately 1,700 videos and 12,500 photos; a list of famous sightseeing spots, natural landscapes, local cuisine and festivals; and high-resolution videos available for viewing and download.
For more information on the Japan National Tourism Organization, check out the official website of the Japan On-line Media Center.
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