China travel warning triggers sharp drop in Japan bookings

A political row triggered by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's recent China-related remarks have led to a sharp collapse in Chinese tourism to Japan.

Since November 15, Chinese travelers have cancelled more than 540,000 tickets to Japan, and refund requests continue to rise. Many travel agencies in China have already scrapped group tours for November and December.

A Tokyo-based agency told Xinhua that cancellations surged from 10 percent of bookings on November 17 to about 70 percent the next day, adding that most remaining reservations may also fall through as travelers hold back. The agency said dozens of study tours and business or government delegations had already withdrawn December trips.

Tourism accounts for roughly seven percent of Japan's GDP, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council. Data from the Japan Tourism Agency show Chinese visitors were the country's top-spending inbound group in 2024. From January to September, foreign travelers spent 6.92 trillion yen ($44.3 billion), with Chinese tourists accounting for about 30 percent.

Nomura Research Institute estimates China's travel alert could wipe out 1.79 trillion yen in tourism revenue over the next year, cutting Japan's GDP by 0.29 percent.