Concerns that China and Japan’s already struggling economies could suffer as a result of escalating tensions between the two nations have proved justified after recent reports indicate that as well as crumbling trade relations both countries will experience significant dips in tourism in the months ahead.
As well as losing out on worldwide travellers who want to avoid the present clashes in Asia’s largest economies, Japan will lose out on a huge amount of Chinese visitors. Those Chinese citizens who would commonly spend vacation periods in Japan are reluctant to do so in light of the backlash surrounding last week’s intense and widespread protests and it is estimated that up to 100,000 Chinese tourists will be going to South Korea instead of Japan.
The Chinese boycott of Japanese goods and travel has sprung from renewed conflict over a longstanding issue – the rights of ownership of a group of islands known in Japan as Senkaku and in China as Diaoyu.
Depressed demand has led to flights being cut by China Southern Airlines Co. and Japan Airlines Co. Japan tours have also been cancelled by Chinese travel agents. With an annual weeklong holiday period coming up it’s been predicted that almost fifty per cent of Chinese holidays booked in Japan might be cancelled. Holiday goers are expected to visit Southeast Asia or South Korea instead.
Sisdivachr Cheetwarattanporn, President of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, intimated that he expects the number of Japan-bound Chinese tourists to continue falling. He asserted that Southeast Asia expects ‘a significant increase in Chinese tourists if the tensions escalate. When there is a tension they will have to change their plans and look for alternative destinations’.
According to Lin Jiashui, the deputy director of one of China’s largest travel agencies, ‘Chinese nationals have great feelings of patriotism because of the Diaoyu incident. Their first reaction is – I don’t want to step on Japanese soil.’
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