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Japan sees surge in Chinese tourists

By Zhang Yunbi in Tokyo (China Daily) Updated: 2015-06-04 07:55

Historical issues

An imbalance is surfacing, as the number of Japanese visitors to China is falling, and this is an issue of common concern among officials and industry insiders from both countries.

The number of Japanese travelers to China has fallen annually since 2011 and the numbers to South Korea has also dropped for the past two years, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization. There were 2.7 million Japanese arrivals in China and 2.28 million arrivals in South Korea last year.

Leading Japanese media have attributed the falls partly to increased territorial and historical issues between Japan and its neighbors.

Kazuo Ogoura, an adviser for think tank the Japan Foundation and a former Japanese ambassador to South Korea, said Japanese impressions of China and South Korea have become less favorable, and there has been widespread antagonism in Japan against the position taken by these two governments regarding historical issues.

Handa, the Japan Tourism Agency official, said the Japanese population is shrinking and the yen is depreciating, creating fewer choices for Japanese traveling abroad.

Decades ago, "there was a boom in Japanese visitors to China and South Korea. ... Now, many Japanese have no idea about the new attractions in China and South Korea, so better promotion is needed."

zhangyunbi@chinadaily.com.cn

 

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