Chinese Tourists Choose Japan Over Thailand for New Year

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Picture courtesy: Freepik

 

In a surprising turn of events, Thailand has been knocked off its pedestal as the favourite destination for Chinese tourists during the Chinese New Year period, with Japan now taking the crown. This shift in travel preferences has been linked to a combination of favourable factors such as lower airfares to Japan, a weaker yen, and relaxed visa requirements, alongside rising safety concerns regarding travel in Thailand.

 

According to reports from Nikkei Asia, Japan saw a doubling in travel reservations from Chinese tourists during the Lunar New Year festivities, held from 25 January to 1 February this year. This development follows a consistent trend observed since 2024, where Japan edged out Thailand in terms of total international arrivals, welcoming 36.87 million visitors compared to Thailand’s 35.55 million.

 

Insights from Trip.com Group reveal a 30% increase in international travel from China during this festive period, with Japan emerging as the most popular destination. Similarly, Dongcheng Travel's data places Japan at the forefront, ahead of other adored spots like Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and, notably, Thailand.

 

Several factors have contributed to Japan’s rising appeal. Notably, the Civil Aviation Administration of China recorded a 24.6% rise in international flights out of mainland China, bringing a surge in outbound travel. Carriers like China Eastern and Spring Airlines boosted their flight schedules significantly, especially towards Japan, making travel more accessible and affordable.

Hotel bookings in Japan surged over 300% on New Year’s Eve compared to last year. Interest in regions with emerging popularity, such as Sapporo and Chiba in Japan, has soared, with flight bookings more than quintupled and hotel bookings doubling in these newly favoured areas.

 

Japan's appeal is further bolstered by eased visa policies and economic factors such as the weaker yen, encouraging more Chinese tourists to choose Japan over other destinations. Tourism consultancy JTB anticipates a 33% increase in the number of Chinese tourists visiting Japan by 2025, while Japan ambitiously targets attracting 60 million tourists by 2030.

 

The recovery of outbound tourism from China has been sluggish due to continuing economic challenges, but Japan’s strategic efforts to draw Chinese tourists remain undeterred. Meanwhile, Thailand’s appeal has been somewhat dampened by recent social media uproars, including concerns over safety following high-profile incidents involving Chinese nationals.

 

Despite unexpected events, such as the unfortunate news of Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu’s demise in Japan, travel to Japan has remained robust, indicating the resilience of its allure for Chinese tourists.

 

Japan's position as a top destination for Chinese tourists appears secure for now, supported by favourable economic conditions and evolving tourist preferences, as the global tourism landscape continues to adjust post-pandemic, reported The Nation.

 

-- 2025-02-13

 

 

[JoePai]

And long many it continue  

[Karma80]

Don't they want to tour the hubs of human trafficking and city pollution anymore?

[WHansen]

Hardly suprising considering the state of the country since thailand opened its arms to the dreggs of society with the 60 day visa free travel.

[proton]

19 minutes ago, WHansen said:

Hardly suprising considering the state of the country since thailand opened its arms to the dreggs of society with the 60 day visa free travel.

 

Most Japanese consider the Chinese the dregs of visitors

 

 

[hotsun]

3 minutes ago, proton said:

 

Most Japanese consider the Chinese the dregs of visitors

 

 

Yes, and they dont give them an inch unlike thailand that all the chinese scammers call their home