Major Chinese travel agencies have halted Japan-bound tourism operations following Beijing’s response to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan. A representative from a large state-owned travel company’s Beijing headquarters told Kyodo News that the agency suspended group tours, individual travel packages, and visa processing services for Japan starting November 16, citing “the current bilateral situation.”
The suspension has created widespread disruption across the travel industry. When searching for keywords like “Japan” or “Tokyo” on the state-owned agency’s website, no travel products now appear. Customers who booked trips but haven’t departed are receiving full refunds without processing fees. Another major private travel company in Beijing has also stopped accepting new Japan travel bookings.
The impact extends beyond travel agencies. Japanese hotels have reported cancellations of accommodation and dining reservations from Chinese corporate clients. Additionally, China has experienced a massive wave of flight cancellations to Japan, with over 490,000 tickets canceled. A manager at another large Chinese travel agency revealed that promotional materials for Japan tours have been removed, and numerous tourists have requested refunds or itinerary changes in recent days.
This development carries significant economic implications for both countries. Japan ranks as China’s most popular travel destination, making Japan tours a cornerstone product for Chinese travel agencies. The suspension affects not only major agencies but may force smaller competitors to follow suit.
According to Japan National Tourism Organization statistics, Chinese visitors to Japan reached 7.49 million during January through September 2025, a 42.7 percent increase from the previous year and surpassing the entire 2024 total of 6.98 million visitors.
Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), November 18, 2025
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202511180232.aspx