Publication of 2014 Survey of Travelers to Japan from Eight Asian Regions

Development Bank of Japan Inc. (DBJ; President and Chief Executive Officer: Toru Hashimoto) is pleased to announce the publication of a new survey report, 2014 Survey of Travelers to Japan from Eight Asian Regions.

Since 2012, DBJ has annually carried out Survey of Travelers to Japan from Eight Asian Regions. This year's survey was conducted in September in the form of an online questionnaire. As in previous years, the respondents were residents of eight regions in Asia?Korea, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia?with experience in international travel.

Below are the findings of this year's survey.

1. Among the entire eight regions, Japan was the most popular tourist destination in 2014?even more popular than in the previous two years.
2. The easing of visa requirements, implemented in July 2013, was well known in each of the regions surveyed. The measures have clearly been effective in encouraging inbound tourism. Most respondents showed little interest in the 2020 Olympics, with over half replying that they did not know that they would be held in Tokyo.
3. People throughout East Asia remain highly concerned about issues deriving from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, although somewhat less so than seen in the previous survey. The provision of broad-ranging, accurate information continues to be of utmost importance.
4. Growing interest in traveling to Japan and in Japanese cuisine, which is representative of Japanese culture?can provide added value to the products of Japanese companies that are developing business overseas.

This year, 'Regional Characteristics' is attached to the survey as reference material.

Those with an interest in the report are invited to visit the DBJ website, where it can be found under "Other Reports"
(https://www.dbj.jp/en/investigate/list/).

DBJ's reports are one means by which it fulfills its corporate philosophy. Applying financial expertise to design the future: We apply creative financing to resolve client issues as we work to earn the trust of our clients and achieve their future prosperity.


Inquiries:
Regional Planning Department
Email: rppost@dbj.jp
Telephone: +81-3-3244-1100