Japan's Kyoto saw a record 10.88 million foreign tourists in 2024, surpassing the 10-million mark for the first time.

The total number of visitors to Kyoto reached 56.06 million, making it the second-highest on record after 2015, according to data from the Kyoto government.

Notably, the number of foreign overnight guests exceeded that of Japanese for the first time since records began in 1958, with 8.21 million foreign stays compared to 8.09 million Japanese.

Tourist spending also hit record levels, with total consumption reaching 1.9075 trillion yen (about 13.3 billion U.S. dollars) and an economic ripple effect estimated at 2.0989 trillion yen.

Kyoto City officials noted that rising accommodation prices may have led more Japanese visitors to opt for day trips, and emphasized their continued commitment to promoting sustainable tourism that coexists with local life.

xinhua