Japan could suffer an economic loss exceeding 2.2 trillion yen (about 14 billion U.S. dollars) from a drastic drop in Chinese visitor numbers, a leading Japanese economist projected on Sunday.
Takahide Kiuchi, executive economist at Nomura Research Institute, made the assessment hours after China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism formally urged its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Japan, citing security concerns. The alert followed a similar advisory issued by China's foreign ministry on Friday.
Kiuchi said that a sharp drop in Chinese visitors could reduce Japan's GDP by 0.36 percent, highlighting the potential economic vulnerability as tourism emerges as a key industry for Japan.
Moreover, Chinese tourists have been the top spenders in Japan's tourism market. According to Japan Tourism Agency statistics, Chinese visitors led all foreign tourists in spending in Japan in 2024.
According to the Chinese foreign ministry, China is Japan's largest trading partner, second largest export destination and largest source of imports, with bilateral trade totaling 308.3 billion U.S. dollars in 2024, including 156.25 billion U.S. dollars in Japanese exports to China.
Japan to suffer huge economic loss from plunge in Chinese visitors: analyst
Japan to suffer huge economic loss from plunge in Chinese visitors: analyst
A crossing point on the Türkiye-Iran border is seeing people going in both directions as some flee the conflict in Iran, while others are returning to their homeland with a vow to fight in the war as U.S.-Israel strikes continue to pummel the country.
Nestled in the mountains between Türkiye and Iran, the Kapikoy border crossing has become a key point of entry or exit, especially given the mass flight suspensions and airspace closures as a result of the conflict which erupted on Feb. 28.
Despite the dangers, Akbar, an Iranian who has lived in Germany for 12 years, is one of the many young men who are determined to head home and join the efforts to defend their country.
He said he decided to return immediately after seeing new reports that his hometown of Isfahan in central Iran had been bombed. He vowed to stand by his country until the end. "I want to return to Iran to protect my country. I am willing to give my life for my motherland. For my life and my compatriots, I am willing to give my life. I have no intention of returning to Germany. I will stay in Iran. I will protect my country with my own life. I want the whole world to know Iranians will always steadfastly protect their country," said Akbar.
Other Iranians who had been working in Türkiye said they were prepared to return for the same reason and do whatever they can to protect their homeland.
"Israel and the United States have made a grave mistake. They will pay a price, a heavy one. We will fight to the end to defend Iran," said one of the young men at the border crossing.
But the border point is also seeing a stream of people going in the opposite direction, as many Iranians are passing through here as they seek to flee the constant aerial bombardment by the U.S and Israel.
"We saw many bombs, four bombs, or, I don't know, five bombs. We are very scared, [I'm] with my mom, and we want to go to Türkiye, it's safe there," said Mahir, an Iranian university student.
Mahir also spoke of the trauma brought by the crisis, saying he has barely slept over the past few days, but every time he closes his eyes, all he sees is explosions. He also expressed worries about others who have been left behind, including his best friend, who is still stuck hundreds of kilometers away in the city of Tabriz.
More than 1,330 Iranian civilians, including women and children, have been killed in U.S.-Israeli airstrikes and thousands more injured, Iran's UN ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said on Friday, while accusing the United States and Israel of deliberately targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure across Iran
U.S.-Israeli strikes continue to pound the capital Tehran and other areas of Iran. Much of the Iranian capital has been shrouded in thick black smoke in recent days after oil depots in surrounding areas were targeted, raising concerns over the impact of pollution and the disruption to fuel supplies.
Since the U.S. and Israel launched large-scale strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, Iran has responded with multiple waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. assets across the region, hitting many countries in the Gulf.
Some flee, others return to fight as Türkiye-Iran border crossing sees people going in both directions
