Osaka tourist attractions are empty, and after a surge in Chinese tour group cancellations, Japanese travel agencies are in despair: feeling very heartbroken!
According to multiple travel agencies located in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, group tour orders from China are being canceled at an "abrupt" rate. A representative of a Tokyo-based travel agency specializing in Chinese tourists revealed, "In the past two weeks, we have received an average of 5 to 8 cancellation notices per day, involving between 30 to hundreds of people. Some groups that had already paid deposits also requested full refunds, which almost never happened before."
The "foot voting" of Chinese tourists has directly impacted the local economy that relies on tourism. For example, in Kyoto, more than 70% of kimono rental shops, matcha dessert shops, and traditional inns mainly serve Chinese customers. Now, many shops have had to temporarily lay off staff or shorten operating hours. A merchant in the Dotonbori district of Osaka frankly said, "Last week, Chinese group tourists virtually disappeared, and our turnover dropped by 40%, which also affected surrounding restaurants and souvenir sales."
The economic loss is being quantified. A recent report by Nomura Research Institute stated that if the number of Chinese tourists remains at the current declining trend throughout the year, it would lead to a reduction of about 0.36 percentage points in Japan's GDP, equivalent to a loss of 2.2 trillion yen (approximately 100 billion yuan).
This figure does not include indirect impacts—such as the chain reactions experienced by industries like aviation, hotels, retail, and transportation.
Notably, the wave of tour cancellations is not an isolated event. It is closely related to the sharp deterioration of Sino-Japanese relations recently. Within a month of her appointment, Takayama Hayato has made multiple tough statements on several sensitive issues.
China has raised serious negotiations three times on this matter. In response, China not only suspended some official cultural exchange projects but also completely halted the import of Japanese seafood products from early November—this measure directly affects the fisheries exports of areas such as Hokkaido and Aomori.
A deeper impact lies in confidence. Many Japanese small and medium-sized business owners say they are worried not only about the loss of current orders, but also about the worsening of long-term market expectations. "Once Chinese tourists shift to Southeast Asia or Europe, it will be difficult to bring them back," said a company executive engaged in cross-border tour charter flights.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1849655207751815/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.