Hong Kong's catering sector reported an estimated 6 to 7 percent drop in business during the Easter long weekend. This decline occurred despite an increase in mainland Chinese tourists, as the number of residents departing the city outweighed tourist arrivals.

Despite a reported decrease in the overall number of Chinese tourists visiting Japan, some still express a strong desire to travel there, indicating a nuanced trend in international tourism.

Sri Lanka aims to attract 300,000 Chinese tourists this year to help compensate for a decline in European arrivals, focusing on revitalizing its tourism sector.

Pair were on their way to take up fruit-picking jobs when they were caught in floods

Departures of foreign passengers from Iceland via Keflavík Airport in February were approximately 147,000, a 0.9% decrease compared to February 2025, with a significant increase noted in Chinese tourists.

Japanese retailers, particularly department stores, are struggling with a double-digit drop in duty-free sales due to a boycott by Chinese tourists.

We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues.

Avoiding Japan, Chinese tourists fuel rebound in Thai tourism  The Straits Times

Incidents of drownings have reportedly dampened the enthusiasm of Chinese tourists for travel to Russia.

Russian authorities reported that divers recovered the bodies of seven Chinese tourists and a Russian driver who died after their bus on Friday...

Russian authorities report that divers have recovered the bodies of seven Chinese tourists and a Russian driver after their mini-bus plunged through the ice into Lake Baikal in Siberia.

Korean duty-free retailers are intensifying their marketing efforts to draw in Chinese tourists, aiming to capitalize on the returning travel market.

Japan experienced a 4.9% decrease in foreign visitors in January compared to the previous year, marking the first monthly decline since January 2022, primarily due to a reduction in tourists from China amid deteriorating Japan-China relations.

South Korea's active courtship of Chinese tourists is seen as a significant indicator of the consumption potential within the tourism sector, according to a Global Times analysis.

Japan saw a 45.2% year-on-year drop in Chinese tourists last month, with only 396,400 visitors from mainland China, despite the Lunar New Year falling in February, reflecting ongoing tensions between Tokyo and Beijing.

The bodies of two Chinese tourists, aged 23 and 26, were found in a submerged car in Queensland, Australia, after they went missing during severe floods in the region.

Nol Universe said Tuesday that its global travel and entertainment booking platform Nol World recorded a record 2.64 million monthly active users in January, driven by an influx of Chinese tourists…

Staff in the Icelandic tourism industry generally find American tourists the easiest to interact with, while Chinese tourists are considered the most difficult.

Chinese travel agencies report a shift in tourist preferences for the Spring Festival, with more Chinese travelers choosing Southeast Asia and South Korea over Japan.

Chinese tourists are fueling a rebound in Thailand's tourism sector, with many opting for Thailand over Japan as a travel destination.

Divers recover bodies of seven Chinese tourists from bottom of Lake Baikal  Qatar Tribune

Suomu, a ski resort in Lapland previously abandoned by the Finnish elite, is being revitalized as a luxury destination targeting Chinese tourists amidst a booming tourism industry in the region.

A Russian driver also died when their mini-bus plunged under the ice to the bottom of the lake in Siberia.

A bus carrying Chinese tourists sank in Russia’s Lake Baikal, resulting in the deaths of seven individuals.

The new Chinese-built railway connecting Vientiane to Luang Prabang in Laos is primarily used by Chinese tourists and is largely unaffordable for most Laotians, leading to local discontent despite financial benefits for the country.

A Polish bus company has been fined 55,000 Danish kroner after one of its Polish drivers illegally transported Chinese tourists in Denmark, marking the first verdict in a bus sabotage case in the country.

Four Chinese tourists risked their own lives to rescue a young South Korean woman from drowning in Malaysia, according to Korean-language media. The incident took place on March 9 near Sapi Island in Kota Kinabalu, according to reports. A Chinese tourist surnamed Meng was snorkeling with friends when she heard a girl crying for help. The girl was not wearing a life jacket and appeared to be struggling to stay afloat. Meng and a friend reached the girl and tried to keep her above water, but soon

The bodies were found inside a car in Queensland’s flood-hit Gympie region.

Ao Nang Beach in Krabi tops Chinese tourists' destination list  Nation Thailand

Thailand led the list of destinations for Chinese tourists travelling overseas during this year’s extended Lunar New Year holiday, as former favourite Japan saw arrivals plummet amid a political dispute with China over Taiwan. The Southeast Asian nation saw roughly 250,000 arrivals from China during the holiday, which ran from February 15 to 23, according to the travel marketing and technology firm China Trading Desk. This year’s Lunar New Year holiday was expected to be a key period for glob...

For his family’s first overseas trip together, Tang Junjie carefully planned a holiday to Japan during China’s longest Lunar New Year break on record. Flights were booked months in advance by the 22-year-old from Sichuan province, who had already made three solo visits to the neighbouring country that has long been a draw for Chinese tourists. But a sudden deterioration in Sino-Japanese relations changed everything. “The original plan was to transit through Seoul on our way to Japan,” Tang sa...

Thailand is seeing a significant travel boom during the Lunar New Year holiday, with Chinese tourists returning in large numbers, leading to near-capacity resorts and fully booked attractions.

A Russian driver also died when their mini-bus plunged under the ice to the bottom of the lake in Siberia.

One tourist managed to escape, and the search for the others continues

More people in China are choosing to stay away from their villages and families during Lunar New Year, according to Chinese national and businessman Xue Gang, 44. “Our parents do not mind, and even my parents are currently travelling around China. “Maybe next year I will bring them to Penang to witness the celebrations here,” he said. Xue, who was in Malaysia’s Penang state with his wife, daughter and friends, said festive performances were no longer common to enjoy back home. “If we want to...

China’s travel industry is expecting a sharp increase in visitors to Australia during this month’s extended Lunar New Year holiday, as millions of tourists fan out across the world for a nine-day break. Industry insiders said the lure of wine, seafood, nature and flexible small-group itineraries was driving interest in the island country. Australia is projected to attract “the most travellers from China” during the break, with bookings likely to more than double over last year’s total, according...