Core Viewpoint - Japan has fallen out of the top ten popular overseas destinations for Chinese tourists during the winter vacation period in early 2026, marking a significant shift in travel preferences [1] Group 1: Travel Trends - There has been a noticeable increase in travel to Thailand and South Korea by Chinese tourists since late November [1] - Japan, previously a favored destination, was ranked as a top choice during the long holiday in October 2023 [1] Group 2: Government Influence - The Chinese government issued a travel advisory on November 14, urging citizens to avoid traveling to Japan, which has impacted travel trends [1] - Japan's Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, made controversial remarks regarding Taiwan during a parliamentary session, leading to backlash from China [1] Group 3: Flight Cancellations - Over 40% of planned flights from China to Japan have been canceled since December, totaling more than 1,900 canceled flights [1] - The Chinese Embassy in Japan reiterated warnings about the deteriorating security environment in Japan on November 26 [1] Group 4: Airline Operations - Chinese airlines are actively working to reduce the number of flights between China and Japan in response to the changing travel dynamics [1]

Core Viewpoint - The Japanese government is considering tax reforms targeting foreign tourists, including the potential cancellation of the tax exemption on shopping, in response to the rising domestic prices and the abuse of the current tax exemption system by tourists [1] Group 1: Government Strategy - The Japanese government aims to boost its tourism strategy, targeting an increase in foreign visitors to 60 million by 2030 [1] - The depreciation of the yen has led to a surge in foreign tourist visits to Japan [1] Group 2: Economic Context - Domestic prices in Japan are continuously rising, prompting the government to explore new revenue sources without increasing the tax burden on Japanese citizens [1] - The government is focused on enhancing national revenue through reforms that address the misuse of the current tax exemption system by tourists [1]