APD | South Korean, Japanese tourism hit by trade tensions

By APD writer Alice

The numbers of Japanese tourists to South Korea and South Korean arrivals to Japan have sharply dropped as as result of a ongoing trade row between the two Asian neighbours.

According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, some 205,000 Koreans traveled to Japan in November, marking a plunge of 65.1 percent compared to the same period last year. In the previous month, the figure was 197,300, down 65.5 percent year on year, the sharpest fall since the 66,4 percent decline recorded in April 2011 after a massive earthquake in Japan.

Since Japan restricted the exports of three key industrial materials to South Korea in July, South Korean consumers have been boycotting Japanese consumer goods and services, including tours to the country.

South Korea is Japan’s second largest tourist market after China, while Japan is also the second biggest tourist market of South Korea.

The number of Japanese visiting South Korea have nosedived in recent months. According to the Korea Tourism Organisation, only 258,500 Japanese visitors came to South Korea in November, a 13.8 percent year on year decrease, marking the second consecutive month of falling after a 14.4 percent decrease in October.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)