What’s new: Japan is expected to see a surge in Chinese tourists during the upcoming Labor Day holiday, giving another boost to the nation’s tourism industry, which is already benefitting from a weaker yen and a strong cherry blossom season.
Japan has become the top overseas destination for Chinese tourists ahead of this year’s five-day national holiday starting May 1, according to an April 16 report by online travel operator Trip.com. Related bookings have more than tripled year-on-year over the past week, data provided to Caixin by operator Tongcheng Travel Holdings Ltd. show.
The number of Chinese tourists traveling to Japan has increased significantly due to the start of the cherry blossom season, which typically begins around late March, and a “good exchange rate,” a person involved in the tourism industry in Japan told Caixin.
The background: Japan hosted a total of 3.08 million foreign visitors in March, a monthly record high and up nearly 70% year-on-year, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.
In the first quarter of this year, more than 1.3 million tourists from the Chinese mainland visited Japan, up 826.1% year-on-year, official data showed. They spent more money on shopping than consumers from any other country during the period.
Contact reporter Wang Xintong (xintongwang@caixin.com) and editor Jonathan Breen (jonathanbreen@caixin.com)
