The Japanese government plans to promote cruise ship tours to Japan to attract more visitors from abroad.

The transport ministry says Japanese and foreign cruise ships plan to make 1,825 port calls in Japan this year.

This represents a 2.5-fold increase from last year and about 60 percent of the pre-pandemic peak level posted in 2018.

Japan halted the intake of foreign cruises in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. But the government decided in November last year to reopen ports to international cruises.

Foreign cruise ships are expected to make more than 1,200 port calls in Japan this year.

Some overseas cruise ships can carry more than 4,000 passengers. It's expected they will boost the number of incoming tourists and help stimulate regional economies.

The government aims to raise the number of international cruise ship visitors to the pre-pandemic level of 2.5 million by 2025.

Officials plan to help develop cruise routes in western Japan's Inland Sea and an island chain in the country's southwest.

They also plan to hold campaigns abroad to pitch Japanese ports to cruise ship operators.