[Breaking news] China lifts group tour ban for Japan

中国、日本への団体旅行解禁へ　コロナ前、訪日客3割占める最大市場（朝日新聞デジタル） - Yahoo!ニュース

　中国から日本への団体旅行が10日にも解禁されることがわかった。在日本の中国大使館が外務省に解禁すると通達した。これまで一部の個人旅行での訪日は認めてきたが、団体旅行の販売は禁止していた。新型コロナ

news.yahoo.co.jp

Group tours from China to Japan will be lifted on the 10th. The Chinese embassy in Japan notified the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the lifting of the ban. Until now, some individual travelers have been allowed to visit Japan, but the sale of group tours has been prohibited. The largest market in terms of both number of people and consumption before the spread of the new coronavirus infection will open in earnest, and it is expected that demand for inbound travel to Japan will recover further. In 2019, before COVID-19, 9.59 million people from China visited Japan, accounting for 30% of all visitors to Japan. The consumption amount was 1,770.4 billion yen, or 36.8% of all visitors to Japan, and was the highest by country/region. The amount of shopping per person was also over 100,000 yen. “Bakugai,” which involves purchasing large quantities of products at department stores, drug stores, and home appliance mass retailers, has become synonymous. However, it decreased sharply due to the corona crisis. Even after October 2018, when border measures were significantly eased, the Chinese government continued to ban the sale of group tours to Japan, and the recovery has lagged compared to other countries and regions. After China eased its zero-corona policy, it lifted the ban on group tours to 60 countries by March this year, but Japan was not included. The number of visitors to Japan in June has recovered to 70% of the pre-corona level, but only about 20% from China. (Go Takahashi, Anri Takahashi)

Wonder what happened?
Maybe China govt and Japan govt has some secret dealings.

 

[REhorror]

Apparently China also lifts the group tour ban for S. Korea, first since THAAD!

「游客」が戻ってくる…中国、韓国行きの団体観光を６年ぶりに許可（中央日報日本語版） - Yahoo!ニュース

中国政府がＴＨＡＡＤ（高高度ミサイル防衛体系）の韓国配備を理由に２０１７年３月以降中断していた中国人団体観光客（游客）の韓国観光を６年５カ月ぶりに再開する。 ９日、中国消息筋によると、中国政府は在

news.yahoo.co.jp

``Visitors'' are returning... China permits group tours to South Korea for the first time in six years​

8/10 (Thursday) 7:24delivery


A Chinese tourist is shopping at a city duty-free shop in Jung-gu, Seoul. Reporter Kwak Jae-min
After six years and five months, the Chinese government will resume tours of South Korea for Chinese tourists, which had been suspended since March 2017 due to the deployment of THAAD (High Altitude Area Defense) to South Korea. According to sources in China on the 9th, the Chinese government conveyed its intention to the South Korean embassy in China to lift the ban on Chinese group tours to South Korea from the 10th. On the same day, the Chinese Embassy in South Korea also posted on its website "Notice Regarding Temporary Fingerprinting Exemption for Chinese Visa Applicants", and from 10th to December 31st, fingerprinting when applying for single or multiple business visas and tourist visas. announced an exemption from After China mandated fingerprinting when issuing visas, waiting times have increased from weeks to more than a month, creating a major barrier to travel. Prior to this, China allowed group tours to 20 countries including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Thailand and Indonesia in February this year. In March, the same measures were taken in 40 countries, including France and Italy. Countries where group travel bans have not been lifted yet include South Korea, the United States, Japan, Australia, and Canada. The number of Chinese tourists visiting South Korea has decreased significantly since China issued a retaliatory ban on Koreans following the deployment of THAAD. The number of Chinese visitors to South Korea used to be around 8 million a year, but has since halved to 4.2 million. As the number of Chinese group tourists is expected to increase, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization will hold a K Tourism Roadshow in Shanghai from 15th to 17th of next month. 27 travel agencies and 13 local governments in Korea will participate. Along with the road show, a publicity event will be held to introduce K-food and K-sports tourism to consumers at large shopping malls.

Wow, pan-Asian unity incoming ??!!!

 

[OIO]

People-to-people exchanges.

Chinese officials pointed finger at Japan and South Korea, especially to Japan.

The U.S. military is preparing to withdraw from the first island chain.

It is very dangerous for Japan to intervene in the Taiwan issue.

 

[+4vsgorillas-Apebane]

So fcuking disappointing.

 

[REhorror]

So fcuking disappointing.

Can't resist sushi and takoyaki!

 

[REhorror]

文旅部：恢复旅行社经营中国公民赴有关国家和地区（第三批）出境团队旅游业务

www.guancha.cn

Asia: Oman, Pakistan, Bahrain, South Korea, Qatar, Lebanon, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Japan, Turkey, Israel, India

Africa: Algeria, Ethiopia, Benin, Botswana, Equatorial Guinea, Cape Verde, Ghana, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Rwanda, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sao Tome and Principe, Tunisia

Europe: Ireland, Estonia, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Poland, Germany, Finland, Netherlands, Montenegro, Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Romania, Malta, Monaco, Norway , Sweden, Cyprus, Slovakia, United Kingdom

North America: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, Costa Rica, United States, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica

South America: Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela

Oceania: Australia, Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, French Polynesia, French New Caledonia

Full list of countries with ban lifted.