Japan's tourism sector could lose over ¥2 trillion ($12.8 billion) in Chinese visitor spending if current diplomatic tensions with China continue through 2026, warns top economist Hideo Kumano. 💸 The Dai-ichi Life Research Institute expert calls this a 'make-or-break' moment for hotels, retailers, and cultural sites that thrived on pre-pandemic tourism levels.
With Chinese tourists accounting for nearly 30% of Japan's pre-2020 travel revenue, Kumano notes souvenir shops in Tokyo's Asakusa and Kyoto's Arashiyama are already feeling the pinch. 🍵🗻 'This isn't just about Mount Fuji selfies – it affects supply chains from Hokkaido seafood markets to Osaka electronics factories,' he told reporters this week.
While J-pop merch and anime pilgrimages still draw global fans, industry analysts say no single market can replace China's spending power. The situation echoes K-drama tourism slumps during past political spats – but on a billion-dollar scale. 📉
