
TOKYO -- International visitors to Japan spent a record 4.41 trillion yen ($39.87 billion) in 2017, with tourists from the rest of Asia driving much of the growth, fresh statistics show.
Overall tourist spending increased 17.8% from 2016, crossing the 4 trillion yen mark for the first time, according to preliminary data released by the Japan Tourism Agency on Tuesday. The number of travelers also grew 19.3% on the year to a new high of 28.69 million.