日本瞄准高消费的中国游客

Since the beginning of this year, more Chinese tourists have been visiting Japan due to easier requirements for multiple-entry visas and the depreciation of the Japanese yen against the US dollar. It is difficult to book a hotel room during the cherry blossom season in Japan. But Chinese visitors are being still welcomed by local businesses.

In the commercial center of Tokyo, Chinese characters are everywhere to make the process easier for shoppers.

"This street gathers foreign shoppers from all countries, and the customers from China make up 70% of them. We hire Chinese staff and translators to ensure smooth communication with guests from China," said Takahashi Hitomi, store manager of Shiseido.

Now the Chinese mainland is the third largest source of overseas tourists for Japan, after Taiwan and South Korea. And besides the surging number of visitors,
Chinese tourists are now also the world’s top spenders. With an average spend of 12,000 yuan per person, Chinese tourists are more willing to spend than those from other countries. Also, the compulsion to purchase gifts for relatives pushes them to select goods from a wider scope.

"I came to buy some electronic products like cameras and cell phones. I also bought some clothes and cosmetics, now the exchange rate is lower. My schoolmates study here and they always come home with a lot of products from here. Maybe because the price is higher in China," one Chinese tourist said.

Domestic consumption contributes 60% of Japan's GDP, but higher sales tax in 2014 slowed sales and dragged economic growth. But the government has expanded the scope of tax-free goods to attract more foreign buyers.

"Chinese spending has a great impact on Japan's GDP. Now as Japan futher loosens its visa requirements, more Chinese tourists will come to the country and we will see a greater effect," said Tsuyuguchi Yosuke, senior analyst.

Tourist spending has doubled since the government's move, and one-third of this has come from Chinese buyers. It seems to be a new stimulus to boost Japan’s economy.