TOKYO —

Japanese tourists visiting China during Golden Week have declined sharply from a year earlier due to concerns over recent demonstrations in Tibet, according to travel agencies. The number of tourists to China during the period decreased more than 70% from a year earlier, based on reservations at Nippon Travel Agency Co, some 50% at Kinki Nippon Tourist Co and some 20% at JTB Corp.

The decline is primarily attributed to the agencies’ decision to exclude Tibet and its vicinity as Chinese destinations for Japanese tourists, in the wake of demonstrations in Tibet in March, some which escalated into riots. Troubles have also emerged at Olympic torch relays around the world since the demonstrations. Pesticide-tainted dumplings imported from China that were found in Japan in January may have also discouraged Japanese tourists from visiting China, industry sources said.

© 2008 Kyodo News. All rights reserved. No reproduction or republication without written permission.

4 Comments

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  some14some at 07:44 AM JST - 4th May

  Worrisome figures and a great cause of concern for JAL-ANA who are already struggling with declining business/profits.

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  MichaelJP at 08:15 AM JST - 4th May

  People will simply travel elsewhere. This is an great opportunity for Korea and other places to pick up the business.

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  rjdsr at 03:11 PM JST - 4th May

  Seeing all the pro-China protesters and the anti-Carrefour protests means there's no way a lot of us aren't going to China. They can't have my money if they want to behave that way. I'll spend my money traveling to a country that behaves properly.

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  OssanULTRA at 11:49 PM JST - 4th May

  I'm far more curious about how the numbers of Western tourists have been affected.

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