China's reinstatement of the short-term visa waiver for Japanese visitors will accelerate the recovery of Japanese travel to China and foster stronger exchanges between the two nations, tourism professionals said.
China's Foreign Ministry announced on Nov 22 that the requirement for short-term visas for Japanese nationals holding ordinary passports will be waived from Nov 30 through the end of next year. The maximum visa-free stay was also extended to 30 days, up from the previous 15-day limit. This policy had been suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bookings surge
Kozo Arita, executive officer and general manager of outbound travel sales headquarters at HIS, another major travel agency in Japan, noted that in the five days before and after the reintroduction of the visa-free scheme, online bookings for flights to China surged by approximately 156 percent, signaling strong interest.
Arita explained that obtaining a visa has traditionally been a time-consuming and complex process, requiring travelers to complete application forms and visit the Chinese Visa Application Service Center or consulates to submit and receive documents. This process was especially challenging for those living in remote areas.
"With the removal of these obstacles through the visa exemption, it has become easier for travelers to choose China as their destination. This is also expected to create a significant business opportunity for our company," Arita said.
Although business travel is currently leading the way, he anticipates that the number of travelers for various purposes, including tourism, academic activities, and intercity exchanges, will rise.
"As people-to-people exchanges grow, mutual understanding between the two nations is expected to deepen, ultimately fostering positive developments in Japan-China relations at the grassroots level over the medium to long term," he added.
Kuniharu Ebina, president of the Japan Association of Travel Agents, or JATA, expressed optimism about the resurgence of leisure travel demand.
JATA plans to urge travel agencies to intensify promotional efforts to showcase China's appeal. This includes not only classic destinations but also new and innovative tourism experiences that spark interest and excitement.
"If outbound demand picks up thanks to the visa exemptions, we can expect further recovery of airline routes and stronger exchanges with regional cities," Ebina said.
"As travel products, which have mainly focused on major cities like Beijing and Shanghai, expand to include regional destinations, we hope that local-level exchanges, such as sister-city exchanges, will gain momentum."
