Japanese businesses welcomed China's announcement on Thursday that Japan-bound group tours will resume following a hiatus due to COVID-19, hoping for the return of bakugai — the term used to describe "explosive" big-budget shopping by Chinese tourists — but some industries expressed concern about labor shortages.
All Nippon Airways Co. and Japan Airlines Co. said they are considering increasing the number of flights between China and Japan in hopes the resumption of Chinese group tours will boost their profits.
The tours will "increase the number of visitors to Japan and revitalize the economy," said Koji Shibata, president of ANA Holdings Inc., ANA's parent company.