With the COVID-19 pandemic having wiped out inbound travel, some Hokkaido companies are seeking opportunities in China, the world’s second largest economy, which already seems to be recovering from the impact of the virus.
Glove Entertainment, a Sapporo-based wedding planning firm, is looking to launch a bridal business in Sanya, on the southern Chinese resort island of Hainan, in October, while others are strengthening their marketing to appeal to Chinese customers online.
“If we can’t expect (inbound tourism) to recover, we can go overseas,” said Zhou Xinmeng, who heads a subsidiary of the firm launched in September to strengthen its inbound business.