Arrivals of tourists from Mainland China to Japan fall by 56.8 per cent

Beijing (ANTARA) - Data released by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) show that the number of arrivals of tourists from Mainland China in the first four months of 2026 fell by 55.1 per cent compared with the same period last year. Since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made misleading statements about Taiwan, the number of Mainland Chinese tourists travelling to Japan has continued to decline, thereby pressuring Japan’s retail, accommodation, and catering sectors. Apart from Mainland China, the number of visitors from Europe and the Middle East also fell significantly in April. Owing to prolonged tensions in the Middle East, several air routes reduced services and airfares rose, causing the number of visitors from the Middle East to fall by 21.4 per cent year-on-year. Among the major European countries, visitor numbers to Japan from Italy, Spain, and Germany declined by 34.2 per cent, 21.6 per cent, and 15.2 per cent respectively compared with the previous year. Financial reports released recently by a number of Japanese companies show that duty-free sales came under heavy pressure due to the decline in Chinese tourists. In fiscal year 2025, running from April 2025 to March 2026, combined duty-free sales at three shopping centres in Fukuoka fell by 20 per cent year-on-year. Among them, Hakata Daimaru shopping centre reported a 39 per cent drop in duty-free sales, resulting in losses.