The Japanese government will expand its multiple-entry visa to Chinese travellers with “sufficient financial capability” and their families effective May 8.
The new visas are valid for three years, limit each period of stay up to 30 days and require that the first visit be a sightseeing trip. Documentation for single-entry tourist visa applications will also be simplified for individuals with gold credit cards, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
Chinese already account for the largest number of inbound tourists into Japan – nearly 1.7 million Chinese arrived in Japan in 1Q, 25 per cent more than the same period last year.
“Chinese visitors are one of the fastest-growing markets for our international sales team, which is good (not only for) us, (but also for) the tourism sector and Japanese economy,” said Toshio Yanagibashi, international sales executive, Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk Hotel.
The new rules also coincide with a worsening diplomatic stand-off between China and South Korea that has seen Chinese tourists seeking alternative vacation destinations like Japan and South-east Asia.
“We have seen the impact of the dispute between China and South Korea, with one large group of Chinese due to arrive here next week after cancelling a visit to South Korea,” Yanagibashi said. “There are a couple more groups that have done the same later in the year as well.”
Kaho Mori, assistant manager of Nippon Travel Agency’s inbound division, agrees there has been “a clear increase” in Chinese arrivals in 1Q2017, although she said it would not be possible to confirm if they might otherwise have gone to South Korea.
