Okinawa expects 7 million foreign tourists in 2030

Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau (OCVB) announced Wednesday that it estimates a total of 15.23 million tourists to visit Okinawa in 2030, and also predicts 46% of them, or 7 million, are from foreign countries.

The number of tourists visiting Okinawa in fiscal 2015 was about 7.94 million, and 21%, or 1.67 million, were from foreign countries. Officials expect a steady rise in the rate of foreign tourists from fiscal 2015 through 2030. An annual 11.6% more are expected to come by air, 4.5% by the sea.

Tourism domestically and worldwide is estimated to increase 4.4% annually.

The problem is that Naha Airport cannot currently accommodate more flights. Several large hotel facilities on Okinawa are expected to open in 2018 and 2019. The second runway at Naha Airport is scheduled to open in 2020 that would allow a 8.8. percent increase in incoming tourists, but many in the industry say that it’s not nearly enough.

Busena

19:32 28 Mar , 2024