Chinese tourists avoid Japan, Singapore benefits.

Following travel advisories to Japan, Chinese tourists have shifted their focus significantly to Southeast Asia, with Singapore accounting for a large proportion of the market.

Tourists take photos with the Merlion statue in Singapore. Many Chinese tourists commented that the island nation is an "easy and pleasant" destination. Photo: Reuters .

Following the Chinese government's recommendation for citizens to limit travel to Japan, tourist flows began to shift strongly towards more accessible destinations in the region, with Singapore emerging as a prominent example.

According to SCMP , Chinese airlines are offering free refunds and ticket changes for trips originally planned to Japan, causing a significant shift in tourist flows towards Southeast Asia. On the ground, popular tourist destinations in Singapore such as Gardens by the Bay and Sentosa have seen many groups of Chinese tourists visiting the island nation for the first time.

Echo He, 36, an accountant from Hunan, said she chose Singapore for her year-end holiday with her husband and colleagues because it was "relaxed and easy to get around." She noted that the widespread use of Mandarin made Singapore an adaptable destination, especially for travelers seeking a relaxed experience without worrying about language barriers. After Singapore, Echo continued on to Malaysia, completing her Southeast Asian exploration in a few days.

Chinese tourists pose for photos at Marina Bay, Singapore. Images of a clean, safe city where Mandarin is widely spoken make it seem more familiar and appealing to them. Photo: Reuters.

Data from the Qunar platform shows that, during the weekend in mid-November, the most attractive destinations for Chinese tourists were in Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia: South Korea led the way, followed by Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and Indonesia. A majority of tourists surveyed in Singapore admitted they would “prioritize Southeast Asia” for their upcoming trips.

She Tianze, 20, a communications student, shared that many of his friends now prefer destinations with familiar cultures and cuisines . “Singapore is easy to get to, safe, and stable. From there, you can easily fly on to Malaysia, Thailand, or Vietnam,” She said during his extended trip across Southeast Asia.

Tourism businesses are also seeing a clear growth trend. The China Trading Desk reported that bookings from China to Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam increased by 15-20% compared to the previous average. Singapore alone saw a 20-25% increase compared to the same period last year.

She Tianze, a Chinese communications student, took a vacation in Singapore in early November. Photo: She Tianze/RedNote.

CEO Subramania Bhatt, founder of China Trading Desk, believes this trend is not a temporary boom but a natural shift based on the demand from Chinese tourists for friendly, accessible, and welcoming destinations.

Dynasty Travel noted a 20% increase in requests for Singapore tours from Chinese tourists in November compared to last year. Patrick Teo, a company representative, said many customers described Singapore as a "safe option" that is easy to incorporate into longer trips.

“We have Chinese customers who shared that in a normal year, Japan would be their first choice, but this year they want to ‘avoid trouble’ and choose a neutral, low-risk destination. Singapore is benefiting as a natural alternative for these travelers,” Teo said.

The director of this travel company noted that the trend is spreading beyond Singapore and other countries in the region because Chinese tourists often combine trips to the city with a visit to a neighboring country.

Trip.com also noted an increase in bookings across Southeast Asia in November compared to the previous year. While this increase is consistent with the overall recovery of international tourism, experts suggest that the "redirection away from Japan" has contributed to the region's overall boost.

Source: https://znews.vn/khach-trung-ne-nhat-ban-singapore-huong-loi-post1607089.html