A Japan tourism event was held in Beijing on June 17 for the first time in five years since the outbreak of COVID-19 to attract tourists from China ahead of the summer vacation season.

The Japan National Tourism Organization gathered 17 organizations, including Japanese municipalities and companies such as LaLaport, in Beijing to promote trips to Japan to Chinese travel agencies. 

One municipality introduced an “Education Vacation” tour, where tourists can learn about Japanese culture. 

S/ Chinese travel agency/ We haven’t sent out tourists to Japan in over 3 years due to the coronavirus, but it is starting up and the momentum is promising.

S/ Tokushima Prefecture representative/ I hope people will come to regional towns of Japan.

Chinese tourists to Japan have slowly come back, but they remain at around 74% of the 2019 pre-coronavirus levels.

The Japan National Tourism Organization, who sponsored the event, said that although there is a need to watch China’s slowing economy, they hope to attract tourists to regional towns of Japan.