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Chinese tourists

Chinese tourists
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Chinese tourists. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
K-pop band BTS performs during the World Cup final match between Spain and Argentina at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on July 19. Photo: AFP
South Korea

BTS concert drives South Korea’s Busan foreign tourist numbers to record high

Busan welcomed more than 2.42 million foreign visitors between January and June – a 43.9 per cent jump compared to the same period last year.

Banking & finance

Shifting priorities: how affluent buyers fuel Hong Kong’s record insurance sales

Hong Kong environmental issues

Letters | Manage tourist flow to Sharp Island for a better travel experience

Japan

Are Chinese tourists really to blame for overcrowding Japan’s Kyoto?

Data from the Kyoto City Tourism Association shows a sharp decline in Chinese overnight stays as a result of growing bilateral tensions.

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Tourists crowd a street lined with blooming cherry blossom trees in Kyoto, Japan, in March. Photo: Reuters
Hong Kong tourism

Global tourism push promotes Hong Kong as city to be ‘felt’ not just seen

‘Only in Hong Kong’ campaign aims to redefine how travellers experience city and distinguish it from other destinations, Tourism Board says.

China travel

The Haaland effect? Chinese tourists flock to Norway amid World Cup ad blitz

The hulking striker has become a huge star in China during the World Cup, helping his homeland attract a growing wave of tourists.

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China economy

Opinion | How domestic tourism is driving Chinese consumption and growth

After a blockbuster first half, all eyes will be on how domestic tourism sustains the momentum through the autumn and ‘golden week’ breaks.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
China travel

‘Indispensable to me’: how RedNote has taken over China’s travel scene

Chinese lifestyle app RedNote is now the first place to which many younger travellers turn to seek inspiration, one expert says.

China property

Up Tempo? Hilton hotel brand taps into rising China tourism demand

US hotel operator says new lifestyle brand reflects its belief that the country’s tourism sector will continue to grow.

South Korea

Jeju plan to allow Chinese tourist drivers stokes safety backlash

The proposal has reignited a decade-old debate over insurance and legal loopholes amid calls for phased policy changes.

Tourists take a stroll on a trail along Handam Beach on Jeju Island, South Korea, last month. Photo: EPA/Yonhap
South Korea

South Korea’s foreigner-only casinos hit jackpot as Chinese tourists return

The casino industry, open only to foreigners, is betting on an expected surge in Chinese group travel in the second half to drive profits.

Gaming tables at foreigner-only Jeju Dream Tower Integrated Resort. Photo: Jeju Dream Tower
Japan

Japan wants 60 million tourists, but China isn’t sending them

Tokyo is banking on a massive visitor boom to do what its factories and financiers increasingly cannot: carry the economy forward.

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China consumption

How a quiet Chinese fishing village became a global surfing hotspot

Wanning, on tropical Hainan Island, is now home to 160 surf clubs and welcomes 500,000 visitors a year.

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Hong Kong property

Hong Kong’s 5-star resilience: city’s luxury hotels pull ahead of competition

Robust demand spurs investment activities in the luxury-hotel segment, and transactions have seen strong growth across the Asia-Pacific region since 2017.

Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour is seen from Lugard Road at The Peak in June. Photo: Karma Lo
Myanmar

Myanmar has ‘a mountain to climb’ to woo 2 million tourists a year

Myanmar saw 4.5 million tourist arrivals at the peak in 2015, but the numbers have fallen sharply since the military coup in 2021.

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Tourists offer joss sticks at Myanmar’s Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon in 2019. Photo: AP
Malaysia

Chinese tourist’s World Cup flag blunder in Malaysia goes viral

The visitor demanded a hotel fly China’s flag, unaware the display only featured nations that had actually qualified for the tournament.

Trending in China

Burned-out Chinese workers flock to tourist-site ‘poet actor’ for life wisdom

Wang Haonan goes viral playing Tang dynasty cultural icon, providing poetic solace to those who consult him about their problems.

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Malaysia

How Malaysia’s tourist board plans to entice Chinese travellers

China was Malaysia’s second-largest source market in 2025, with 4.7 million visitor arrivals, up 25 per cent from 3.7 million a year earlier.

Tourists take pictures with the Sultan Abdul Samad building near Merdeka Square in Kuala Lumpur on June 8. Photo: AFP
Trending in China

Chinese teenager cracks glass bridge; public questions structural quality

The scenic area was designated a national 5A tourist attraction in 2024; by 2025, China had hosted 358 such esteemed sites.

Malaysia

Why Malaysia’s tourism boom lives and dies on a Chinese app

RedNote has made Malaysia a must-visit for Chinese tourists, but it can dismantle reputations just as fast as it builds them.

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Malaysia

Malaysia has never had so many Chinese tourists. It wants more

As Thailand loses its allure, Malaysia turns to viral algorithms to entice millions of independent Chinese travellers.

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Illustration: Huy Truong
New Zealand

Why an easier option to travel to New Zealand is a hit with Chinese tourists

Chinese visitors take advantage of a pilot scheme that exempted them from visa requirements if they were travelling from Australia.

Chinese tourists at Lake Tekapo, New Zealand. Photo: Francine Chen
China travel

China-Japan flights to decline 57% in summer travel peak as tensions linger

Of Japan’s top five inbound tourism markets so far this year, mainland China is the only one where travellers require a visa.

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United States

With no team in World Cup, Chinese fans root for Ronaldo, Messi … and a referee

Chinese team has not played in tournament for 24 years, so supporters follow world’s two most famous players and a strict mainland official.

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Trending in China

Outrage erupts over distressed camel seen crying while carrying tourist in China

Video of struggling camel has ignited debate about treatment of animals in tourism and associated ethical concerns.

A camel at a popular tourist site in China was spotted crying out in distress while carrying a visitor, sparking widespread outrage online. Photo: Douyin
Japan

Video | Japan raises visa fees fivefold

A single-entry visa will jump from 3,000 yen (US$18.54) to 15,000 yen, and a multiple-entry visa will rise from 6,000 yen to 30,000 yen.

Kyoto, Japan - 17 September 2017: Tourists walking along illuminated restaurants and bars in Pontocho street at night in old town
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China consumption

Why are cash-strapped Chinese cities spending millions to host TV shows?

Jiangshan spent heavily to host the Chinese version of ‘Running Man’, but the project has provoked backlash amid China’s economic slowdown.

China travel

Why are foreign travellers racing to China for the June Dragon Boat holiday?

Chinese travel platforms have logged a big jump in bookings by inbound tourists over the holiday, as global interest in Chinese festivals rises.

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