TOKYO, July 19 Reuters Japan set a record high for monthly visitors in June, official data showed on Friday, as its weak yen fuelled a tourism boom that is becoming a key driver for the economy.

The number of foreign visitors for business and leisure was 3.14 million last month, exceeding the previous monthly record of 3.08 million set in March and up from 3.04 million in May, data from the Japan National Tourism Organization JNTO showed.

The 17.78 million arrivals through June were also a record for a halfyear period and on pace to smash through an annual record high of 31.9 million in 2019, before the COVID19 pandemic shut global borders.

Spending by visitors is estimated to reach 8 trillion yen 50 billion this year, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Friday, adding that the government needed to guard against socalled overtourism. The tourism industry is expected to become Japan39;s secondbiggest export sector for 2024, behind automobiles and ahead of electronic components.

The yen39;s slide to a 38year low against the dollar has made Japan an irresistible bargain for overseas travellers. Out of 23 markets tracked by the JNTO, travellers from 18 regions set new records for June arrivals. Visitors from Taiwan and the United States set their highest totals for any month.

The weak yen has undoubtedly boosted Japan39;s appeal, encouraging spontaneous travel plans, said Naomi Mano, president of highend travel agency Luxurique. We are also witnessing a more diverse…