In the May Day holiday, from April 30 to May 2, Chinese tourists poured into Japan and South Korea for shopping sprees.
Chinese outbound tourists and expenditures had ranked first in the world last year. According to statistics released by China National Tourism Administration (CNTA), 120 million Chinese citizens had traveled abroad in 2015.
The May Day holiday, from April 30 to May 2, is a peak travel season in the country. Chinese tourists poured into Japan and South Korea, instead of Hong Kong and Taiwan for shopping sprees.
In 2015, about 6.2 million Chinese tourists visited South Korea, and experts say the numbers are expected to be higher this year. The Seoul municipal government had declared May 1 as "Chinese Tourist Day," Chinese tourists can receive gifts and courteous receptions including free fittings of its national costumes.
Many shops offered one-to-one guides for Chinese VIP customers and pop-star products for young tourists. Many Chinese visited Busan and Jeju Island with scenic spots such as the Seongsan Sunrise Peak and Cheonjiyeon Waterfall, along with duty-free shops.
South Korea's tourism and retail industry was grinning from ear to ear. Seoul-based Yonhap News Agency said the Korean Tourism Organization had reported that 63,000 Chinese tourists visited South Korea during the May Day Holiday.
In Japan, Chinese tourists were the spotlight in the wake of the recent Kumamoto earthquake and the Japanese currency yen appreciation in value.
Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said during his visit to China on April 30 that Japan would relax its visa policy for the Chinese. Although China's "shopping fever" had cooled down in the nation, the Japanese had adapted to changes by boost cross-border e-commerce markets, which comes with after-service care.