DALIAN, China -- Chinese calls to boycott a Japanese hotel chain over the CEO's view of history made international headlines last month, just before the weeklong Lunar New Year holidays. But the real story, perhaps, is that controversies like this can create a distorted picture of broader public sentiment.
Just ahead of the busy travel period, a statement appeared on the website of the China National Tourism Administration. "We demand that all operators with international tours and online platforms completely stop all cooperation with this hotel," it said.
