Japan to boost consulate staff to process surge in Chinese tourist visa applications
Huge influx of mainland visitors visitors expected for cherry blossom season
Japan is planning to increase its consulate staff in China to cope with the rapid rise in the number of visa applications from Chinese tourists.
"To expand manpower [at embassy and consulates] to process visa applications is a top priority," Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Fumio Kishida told parliament's House of Councillors on Friday, Kyodo reported.
Thanks to a cheaper Japanese yen against the renminbi and a recently relaxed visa policy, Japan has become more attractive than ever as a destination for Chinese tourists.
Last month, 360,000 Chinese travellers visited Japan, an increase of 160 per cent over the same period last year, Japan's National Tourism Organisation said on Wednesday. The new monthly record was due to the Lunar New Year break falling in February, Kyodo reported.
Japan has seen an surge in Chinese tourists since last year, when nearly 2.4 million Chinese made to trip across the East China Sea - an 83 per cent rise from 2013. That figure is expected to rise by 30 per cent this year.
Following the arrival of the cherry blossom season in Japan, its consulates in China are facing a new surge of visa applications.
Demand for Japanese visas is so great that the visa paper - a pink-toned paper ornamented with delicate patterns of cherry blossoms - is in short supply, the reported.
Last week, Japan's consulate in Shanghai said it would temporarily issue visas on white paper to group visitors starting from March 11.
In addition to Japan's natural and cultural attractions, Chinese visitors are drawn to Japanese-made goods, ranging from cosmetics and milk powder to rice cookers and hi-tech toilet seats.
"Made in Japan is the golden brand among Chinese tourists," said Shenzhen senior tour guide Wang Meng.
"They believe Japanese products are the best of their kind in the world. Almost everyone goes back to China with overweight baggage. Most goods in Japan are 20 to 30 per cent cheaper than those in Hong Kong," he said.
