The number of overseas visitors to Japan this year has already topped 20 million, surpassing last year's record of 19.7 million, the Japanese government said Monday.

    From January to the end of September, overseas tourists to Japan jumped 24.1% in comparison to the same period last year, to nearly 18 million. The number is believed to have exceeded the 20 million mark on Sunday, according to Japan's Tourism Ministry. 

    Tourism Minister Keiichi Ishii made the announcement on Monday, Japan's broadcaster NHK World reported.

Japan received 5 million visitors from China, the largest market, in the first nine months of the year, up 30.5% from 2015. 
The number of guests from South Korea, the second-largest market, grew 30.2% to 3.7 million, the Japan National Tourism Organization said. 
The increase was largely attributed to Japan's promotional activities in Asia, a growing number of cruise ships arrivals from China and the substantial relaxation of visa requirements for visitors from some South-East Asian countries. 
Japan aims to boost the number of overseas visitors to 40 million in 2020, the year Tokyo hosts the Olympic Games.

Source: QNA