From The Star

Thailand has for years been the top travel destination for Chinese tourists during the Chinese New Year holidays. However, the tables appear to have turned this year, with Japan overtaking Thailand as the most preferred destination.

According to a report on Nikkei Asia, Japan was the top cross-border destination for Chinese tourists during the eight-day Lunar New Year holiday through February 4, with reservations doubling from the previous year.

This shift aligns with the pattern observed in 2024 when Japan also surpassed Thailand in terms of total international arrivals. According to data from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, Japan recorded 36.87 million international arrivals, compared to 35.55 million in Thailand. The increase in Chinese visitors to Japan has been a key driver of Japan’s tourism growth.

Data from the online travel agency Trip.com Group indicates that international travel from China rose by 30 per cent year-on-year during the arrival of the Year of the Snake. Japan emerged as the top destination for Chinese tourists, consistent with findings from Dongcheng Travel, which ranked Japan ahead of Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand as the most popular destination for Chinese travellers.

Lower airfares have also contributed to a surge in outbound travel among Chinese tourists. According to the Civil Aviation Administration of China, an average of 1,888 international passenger flights flew out of the mainland during the Chinese New Year holidays, marking a 24.6 per cent surge compared to the previous year.

https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2025/02/13/thailand-loses-its-crown-as-top-spot-for-chinese-new-year-to-japan

It was very noticeable. I hadn't considered Lunar New Year when I planned this trip. I will from now on.