Part 7/10:

The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically affected the local tourism industry in Niseko. In 2017, the region welcomed approximately 220,000 foreign hotel guests—a fivefold increase over a decade. However, strict border closures during 2020-2021 saw foreign hotel arrivals plummet to just 77,000, severely impacting revenue for the hospitality sector.

Despite these setbacks, development has continued unabated. A notable example is the Setsu Niseko luxury development, which includes 190 suites and opened in August 2022. Even during the pandemic’s height, investor confidence remained high, especially driven by affluent Asian markets like China, Hong Kong, and Southeast Asia.