Heads up, shoppers! 🛍️ Japan’s duty-free retail is stumbling as Chinese visitors press pause on trips. More than a month after China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism advised nationals to dial back travel to Japan, the usually bustling tax-free counters are quieter than usual.
At J Front Retailing’s Daimaru and Matsuzakaya stores, duty-free sales plummeted 17% year-on-year, dragging overall monthly sales down 1.9%. Other retail giants reported similar slumps during the 2026 New Year sales period. 📉
Retailers say the drop comes from fewer Chinese tourists hitting the shops and those who do arriving with tighter budgets. Industry analysts warn that if this trend sticks, it could put future earnings at risk.
From here, Japanese retailers face a tough task: shake things up to revive duty-free sales or watch the slowdown continue. Stay tuned for more updates on this retail rollercoaster! 🎢
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Reference(s):
Chinese visitor decline weighs on Japan's duty-free retail sector
cgtn.com
