Culture News

Japan's February: Chinese visitors down 45.2% for a third month, yet 18 markets set records

Visitors from mainland China to Japan fell 45.2% year on year in February to 396,400, the third straight month of steep decline, according to Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) figures released on Wednesday, March 18. AFP, carried by Gulf Times and Malay Mail, reports drops of about 45% in December and 60.7% in January.

Other markets grew. South Korean arrivals rose 28.2% to 1.1 million, and 18 countries and regions, including South Korea, Taiwan and the US, set February records. Gulf Times adds that visitors from Hong Kong rose 19.6%, after falling in January. JNTO noted that February is usually a quiet month for travel to Japan, especially from Europe.

Chinese guests “had halved since November” — a Tokyo Bay-area hotel, via Gulf Times

Both papers tracked where Chinese travellers went instead. Korea Tourism Organisation data showed 418,703 visitors from China to South Korea in January, up from 364,460 a year earlier, and Chinese arrivals in Thailand rose an average of 4.24% over January and February. The fall follows the dispute over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's November comments about Taiwan.

How each outlet framed it

• Gulf Times — the streak: Chinese tourists stay away for a third month.
• Malay Mail — the reshuffle: Korea, Taiwan and the US hitting new highs.

What we don't know yet: Whether Chinese travel to Japan recovers before the spring cherry blossom season. Both reports use the same AFP copy; Japanese and Chinese outlets were not checked for this piece.