Japan was one of the strongest tourism performers among OECD and partner economies in 2025, with international tourist arrivals rising by double digits and reaching a record high, according to the OECD Tourism Trends and Policies 2026 report.
The OECD, or the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, is a policy forum and data hub whose member countries include major economies across Europe, North America, South America and the Asia-Pacific. The 2026 tourism report covers 53 OECD and partner countries, meaning it includes both OECD member economies and selected partner markets.
The report showed that Japan’s international tourist arrivals rose by 15.8 percent in 2025, following a 47.1 percent rebound in 2024. The OECD said the recovery in Japan and Korea was supported by expanded air connectivity and a weak yen.
Japan also ranked as the fastest-growing destination in the OECD’s comparison of countries that recorded more than 10 percent growth in international tourist arrivals between 2019 and 2025, with 2025 marking a new record.
The tourism gains come as Japan prepares for MGM Osaka, the country’s first integrated resort with a casino, which is scheduled to open in 2030.
Across OECD countries, international tourist arrivals rose by an estimated 3.4 percent in 2025 to 847 million, after increasing 8.1 percent in 2024. The tourism sector directly contributed 4.0 percent of GDP and 19.3 percent of services exports, while supporting wider activity in transport, retail, agriculture and other sectors.
However, the OECD warned that tourism resilience is being tested by geopolitical uncertainty, changing traveler behavior and extreme weather-related events. It said the conflict in the Middle East had disrupted global travel flows, increased costs and weighed on traveler confidence, particularly for destinations in the region and those reliant on Gulf aviation hubs.
‘Tourism continues to grow, generating business opportunities, jobs and tax revenues across the OECD,’ OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann said.
The OECD said governments need more flexible and coordinated policies to manage visitor flows, strengthen crisis preparedness and ensure tourism growth delivers broader economic, social and environmental benefits.
