Nothing unpatriotic about people who love to spend abroad

Since many outbound Chinese tourists are more interested in shopping than traveling, it is fair to call them shopaholics. They spend money on virtually everything, from high-end electronic appliances and luxury goods to daily necessities, such as skin cream and anti-cold medicine.

The large number of Chinese tourists swarming to Japanese stores during Spring Festival to buy electronic toilet seats, equipped with heating and warm water shower functions, have made the headlines, sparking heated debates in the media and drawing the attention of many Chinese netizens.

Some critics even say such outbound Chinese tourists are blind worshippers of foreign products and, therefore, not patriotic. Such emotional finger-pointing is unnecessary and ignores the real issue. The real question is: If Chinese consumers could get viable alternatives in the domestic market, why would they take pains to travel abroad to shop?