Many Chinese travelers have already begun to cancel their tours to Japan, with travel agencies revoking group tours to the country due to the worsening public security situation there.
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism have advised the Chinese citizens to avoid traveling to Japan, citing security concerns.
For the same reason, China's Ministry of Education has also released an overseas study alert for Japan, urging Chinese students currently in the country or planning to study there soon to assess risks carefully, take necessary precautions, and plan their studies prudently.
In response, major Chinese carriers, including Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines, have announced special arrangements for Japan-bound travelers, allowing eligible passengers traveling before Dec 31 to change or refund their tickets free of charge.
November and December are typically the peak tourist season in Japan. However, following the release of travel warnings from the government, many Chinese travelers have canceled their planned tours to Japan that were scheduled to depart from Xiamen City of east China's Fujian Province in late November and early December, according to several travel agencies in Xiamen.
Staff at travel agencies said that demands from Chinese tourists for winter tours to Japan are usually high at this time of the year, but there has been a noticeable decrease in inquiries and purchases at the moment.
"In the past couple of days, no one has come here to inquire anymore, and some group tours to Hokkaido have already been canceled. We will not offer any trips to Japan in the near future," said Chen Cuiping, manager of a travel agency in Xiamen.
Industry insiders say that various travel agencies are working hard these days to actively process cancellation requests and have simplified the refund process. In the future, these agencies will adjust their travel products to Japan in real time based on the ongoing developments.
"Normally, we issue tickets two weeks in advance. If tickets have not yet been issued, we support providing a full refund," Chen said.
Two weeks after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's recent provocative remarks on China's Taiwan region, the economic fallout for Japan is becoming clear.
The key sectors such as retail and tourism are feeling the bite. Hokkaido, a top destination for Chinese tourists, is reporting a decline in the number of Chinese tourists. The Sapporo Stream Hotel, which usually hosts around 3,000 Chinese visitors monthly, has seen about 70 bookings canceled. The East Japan International Travel Service company said 70 percent of its Chinese tour groups have been canceled. Hokkaido officials are also worried about the potential impact on the region's major aquaculture industry.
In addition, financial markets in Japan are also feeling the pressure. The growing concern from investors over the country's fiscal health has led to a slump in the stock market, with the Nikkei falling 2.2 percent on Friday and down 3.3 percent for the week.
Takahide Kiuchi, a researcher at Nomura Research Institute, has warned that the diplomatic dispute between Japan and China could reduce Japan's GDP by more than 11 billion U.S. dollars over the next year, and that would be a drop of nearly 0.3 percent in GDP.
Chinese travelers canceling tours to Japan amid worsening public security
