40% of Japan tourism companies see no China rebound until 2024: poll

Weak Chinese economy, too few flights blamed for slow post-COVID recovery

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Chinese tourists take a photo in front of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. Visitors from China are down more than 80% from pre-COVID numbers this year. © Reuters

JUNYA HEMMI, Nikkei staff writer

TOKYO -- More than 40% of travel and leisure companies surveyed by Nikkei do not expect Chinese visitors to Japan to return to pre-coronavirus levels until at least next year, as a cooling economy and lack of flights offset the revival of group tours.

Of the 24 hotel, leisure, air travel and other companies that responded to the poll early this month, 10 said they anticipate a full recovery in 2024 at the earliest. Only one sees a rebound this year.

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