Hey travel fam! 🌏✈️ Japan’s tourism sector is feeling the pinch as fewer visitors from the Chinese mainland plan trips amid rising diplomatic tensions and safety advisories.
It all kicked off after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent remarks on the Taiwan question, sparking friction between Tokyo and the Chinese mainland. This past Sunday (Nov 16), the Chinese mainland’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism advised citizens to avoid travelling to Japan, citing security concerns.
Major carriers from the Chinese mainland—Air China, China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Sichuan Airlines and Xiamen Airlines—announced free refunds or changes on tickets booked for travel before Dec 31. As of Nov 17, travel agencies in the Chinese mainland reported a surge of group tour cancellations to Japan.
From cozy ryokans in Kyoto to sleek hotels in Tokyo, operators are now worried the year-end rush will fizzle out. To bounce back, Japan’s tourism board is eyeing new markets in Southeast Asia 🌴 and South Asia 🌺, plus fresh incentives and digital campaigns to win travellers’ hearts.
Whether you’re planning a sushi crawl in Osaka or a temple tour in Nara, keep an eye on flight updates and policy shifts. Stay tuned for more on how this story evolves—and happy (and safe!) travels! 🚀😃
Reference(s):
Drop in visitor numbers from China a major concern for Japan's tourism
cgtn.com
