According to the official statistics released by Fukuoka City, the number of foreign tourists who visited the city in 2013 increased 2.4% year-on-year to a record high 17,820,000. The number of foreigners who entered Japan from Fukuoka Airport and Hakata Port also hit a new high of 900,000, a 11% uptick over the previous year. One major factor behind the increase was the weakening yen, but the City credits several major events, including the figure skating Grand Prix in December, with attracting more foreign visitors. Although the number of mainland Chinese visitors fell due to strained bilateral relations, the number of visitors from Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong all increased. Chinese visitor numbers have since recovered as evidenced by a record number 91 ports of call by Chinese cruise ships in 2014. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun 1/14
