Japan's tourism sector is bracing for a deepening chill this winter in the wake of erroneous remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. 日本首相高市早苗的失言事件后，日本旅游业正为今年冬季持续降温的局面做准备。 As its travel market cools, rival destinations across Asia are moving swiftly to cater to Chinese travelers who had previously planned to visit Japan. 随着日本旅游市场遇冷，亚洲各地的竞争对手正迅速行动，以吸引那些原本计划赴日旅游的中国游客。 "Since last week, inquiries for Malaysia, Singapore and winter favorites such as Phu Quoc in Vietnam and Bali in Indonesia have increased by 20 to 30 percent week-on-week," said Li Mengran, marketing manager of Beijing-based travel agency Utour. 北京优途旅行社市场经理李梦然表示：“上周以来，马来西亚、新加坡以及越南富国岛、印度尼西亚巴厘岛等冬季度假胜地的咨询量较前一周增长了20%至30%。” "These destinations benefit from visa-free policies, diverse tourism resources, abundant flights and flexible tour products suited for families and smaller groups." 这些目的地因免签政策、丰富的旅游资源、充足的航班以及适合家庭和小团体游客的灵活旅游产品而备受青睐。 Thailand moved quickly to capitalize on the shifting sentiment. 泰国借势把握市场情绪变化带来的机遇。 On Wednesday, the Beijing office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand emphasized that Thailand "always welcomes visitors from around the world, especially Chinese friends", announcing Chinese-specific New Year promotions and safety standards. 周三，泰国旅游局北京办事处强调，泰国“始终欢迎世界各地的游客，特别是中国朋友”，并宣布推出针对中国游客的新春促销活动及安全标准。 Beyond Southeast Asia, Russia is also seeking to attract Chinese tourists. 除东南亚地区外，俄罗斯也在积极吸引中国游客。 Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Nov 18 that visa-free travel for Chinese citizens would be introduced "in the very near future", according to Russian media reports. 据俄罗斯媒体报道，俄罗斯总统弗拉基米尔·普京11月18日表示，俄方将在“不久的将来”对中国公民实施免签政策。 Data from Qunar, a Beijing-based online travel agency, show that the ranking of top outbound destinations has shifted significantly. 北京在线旅游平台去哪儿网的数据显示，热门出境旅游目的地的排名已发生显著变化。 On Nov 15 and 16, South Korea overtook Japan as the most-booked outbound market, with Seoul becoming the most searched international destination by Nov 17. The surge has been helped by South Korea's visa-free trial program for Chinese tour groups of three or more, effective from Sept 29 through June 30 next year. 11月15日至16日，韩国超越日本成为预订量最高的出境旅游市场，首尔更在11月17日跃居最受搜索的国际目的地。此轮增长得益于韩国自9月29日起实施的免签试点政策——针对三人及以上中国旅行团的免签政策将持续至明年6月30日。 "From now through the end of 2025, off-peak outbound demand will remain strong," said Yang Han, a researcher at Qunar. "Japan's change has pushed travelers toward more diversified destinations, South Korea now leads, followed by China's Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions nearby, and costeffective Southeast Asian nations such as Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia." 去哪儿网研究员杨涵表示：“从现在到2025年底，淡季出境游需求将持续强劲。日本市场的变化促使游客转向更多元化的目的地，韩国目前位居首位，其次是邻近的中国香港、澳门特别行政区，以及泰国、越南、马来西亚等性价比高的东南亚国家。” Domestic destinations are absorbing some redirected traffic as well. Flight bookings to southern provinces from Nov 19 to Dec 31 had exceeded 4.72 million as of Nov 18, up about 13 percent year-on-year, according to data from aviation service app Umetrip. 国内目的地也吸纳了部分转移的客流。据航空服务应用程序航旅纵横数据显示，截至11月18日，11月19日至12月31日期间飞往南方省份的航班预订量已突破472万次，同比增长约13%。 The ongoing downturn in Chinese outbound travel to Japan accelerated after multiple Chinese ministries issued travel alerts, reminding Chinese citizens to avoid traveling to Japan in the near term. Major Chinese airlines have subsequently announced free refunds or rescheduling for Japan routes booked before Dec 31. According to a report by China Central Television on Thursday, more than 540,000 flight tickets to Japan have been canceled since Nov 15. 中国赴日出境游持续低迷，在多个中国政府部门发布旅行提示、提醒公民近期避免赴日后，这一趋势进一步加速。中国主要航空公司随后宣布，对12月31日前预订的日本航线提供免费退票或改签服务。据中央电视台周四报道，自11月15日以来，已有超过54万张赴日机票被取消。 Wu Liyun, professor of the China Academy of Culture and Tourism at Beijing International Studies University, said travelers now increasingly prioritize safety, emotional comfort and geopolitical stability. 北京外国语大学中国文化旅游研究院教授吴丽云指出，如今旅客越来越重视安全保障、情感舒适度和地缘政治稳定性。 "People want to feel relaxed and happy when traveling. Government attitudes and how locals treat foreign visitors directly shape emotional experience," she said. When safety or political stability weakens, she added, travelers naturally turn elsewhere. "Southeast Asia, Central Asia and many regional destinations offer strong alternatives. Safety and certainty have become crucial, long-term considerations." 吴丽云表示：“人们旅行时渴望放松身心、享受快乐。政府态度和当地居民对待外国游客的方式，直接影响着游客的情感体验。”她补充道，当安全或政治稳定性下降时，游客自然会另寻他处。“东南亚、中亚及众多地区性目的地提供了强有力的替代选择。安全与确定性已成为至关重要的长期考量因素”。 China is Japan's largest and highest-spending inbound visitor source. In 2024, Chinese mainland tourists accounted for 21.3 percent of all foreign tourist expenditure, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization. Combined visitors from the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong made up 30 percent of Japan's total inbound arrivals between January and September this year. 中国是日本最大的入境游客来源地，且消费水平最高。日本国家旅游局数据显示，2024年中国大陆游客支出占日本外国游客总支出的21.3%。今年1月至9月，中国大陆与香港游客合计占日本入境游客总量的30%。 The impact is already being felt in Japan's northernmost prefecture. Hokkaido Governor Naomichi Suzuki said at a news conference on Friday that cancellations have appeared across local hotels and flight tickets. "As the winter travel season approaches, the concerns continue to grow." 这种影响已在日本最北端的县有所显现。日本北海道知事鈴木直道周五在记者会上表示，当地酒店和机票出现大量取消预订的情况，“随着冬季旅游旺季临近，担忧情绪持续加剧”。 Sapporo Stream Hotel in Hokkaido, which normally receives around 3,000 Chinese guests each month, has recorded 70 cancellations since the travel alert. Tour operators in Nagoya and Tokyo report similar losses. One Nagoya-based charter operator said all December bookings from Chinese groups had been canceled. A Tokyo river cruise company that usually serves up to 2,000 Chinese tourists annually saw about 240 people cancel in recent days. 位于北海道的札幌溪流酒店每月通常接待约3000名中国游客，自发布旅行警示以来已收到70份取消预订通知。名古屋和东京的旅行社也报告了类似损失。一家名古屋包机运营商表示，12月所有中国团队预订均已取消。一家东京游船公司通常每年接待约2000名中国游客，近日已有约240人取消行程。 Japan's Nomura Research Institute estimated that the decline in Chinese tourists could reduce Japan's GDP by 0.36 percent. 日本野村综合研究所估计，中国游客的减少可能使日本国内生产总值下降0.36%。 Tourism is Japan's second-largest source of foreign exchange, after vehicle exports, Wu of the China Academy of Culture and Tourism added. 吴丽云补充道，旅游业是日本第二大外汇来源，仅次于汽车出口。 "If Chinese travelers significantly reduce or halt travel to Japan, that consumption disappears," she said. "This will have a huge impact on Japan's foreign-exchange revenue, GDP growth and employment across accommodation, dining, retail and entertainment." 吴丽云表示：“如果中国游客大幅减少或停止赴日旅行，这些消费就会消失。这将对日本的外汇收入、GDP增长以及住宿、餐饮、零售和娱乐行业的就业产生巨大影响。” outbound travel 出境游 visa-free trial program 免签试点政策
