TOKYO (Reuters) - The coronavirus pandemic is hitting hard at Japan's tourism industry, with the number of foreign visitors plunging 58% in February from a year earlier, government data showed on Thursday.
Total foreign arrivals, including those for tourism and business, declined to 1.09 million from 2.60 million in the corresponding month last year, the Japan National Tourism Organization said. It was the fifth straight month of declines.
Tourism has emerged as a key driver for Japan's retail and hospitality industries in recent years as they try to offset weak domestic consumption by an ageing and shrinking population. "These are very tough numbers, and things will probably get still worse," Japan Tourism Agency commissioner Hiroshi Tabata told a news conference.
Japan is also insistent that is not preparing to postpone the Tokyo Olympics, scheduled from July 24-Aug. 9.
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