China lifted its COVID-19 pandemic ban on group tours to Japan on Thursday as well as 77 other countries, a move that's likely to provide a significant boost to Japan’s tourism industry.
Thursday’s decision came after China imposed a blanket test for radiation on all seafood products imported from Japan last month over Tokyo’s plan to release tritium-laced treated water from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, creating tension between the two countries.
“From now on, national travel agencies and online travel companies will resume operating outbound group tours and ‘air ticket and hotel’ business for Chinese citizens to relevant countries and regions,” China’s Culture and Tourism Ministry said Thursday.