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Several Chinese travel agencies have warned that trips to Japan may be affected and some tour products could be suspended, the Global Times confirmed on Monday, with repercussions caused by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's wrongful Taiwan remarks continuing to unfold, prompting travelers' concerns and driving firms to reassess their Japan-bound offerings.

A customer service representative at a major Chinese travel agency, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Global Times that the company has taken down all Japan-bound group tours and visa-related products. "They are no longer visible on the app. Customers who have already booked can request a full refund. We currently have no information on when these products might return," the person said.

A representative at another Chinese major travel agency, who also requested anonymity, told the Global Times on Monday that Japan-bound tours have been placed on hold. "We follow policies and guidance from relevant authorities. Given the current tensions in China-Japan relations, we are not recommending travel to Japan," the person said. "For customers who booked earlier, we are still arranging their trips, but if the situation escalates, refunds may be negotiated between the agency and travelers."

"We have suspended the promotion of Japan-related destinations and are adjusting our product portfolio to focus on places such as the United Arab Emirates and Singapore. For new inquiries about Japan trips, we remind customers of the risks and recommend alternative destinations," a representative from travel agency 6renyou told the Global Times on Monday.

While some travel agencies have suspended or stopped recommending Japan-bound tours, others are maintaining their existing offerings as they wait for clearer policy guidance.

A representative from another Chinese travel company, who asked not to be identified, told the Global Times that it is strictly following national policies. "If authorities advise against travel to Japan, we will also discourage customers from going," the person said.

A representative at a major South China-based travel agency told the Global Times that Japan-bound group tours have not been suspended, but some customers who already registered have begun asking about refund and change policies for Japan trips. 

A customer service agent at Fliggy, responding to an inquiry made as an ordinary traveler, noted that going to Japan is up to travelers themselves to decide and suggested checking with immigration authorities if needed, while saying that Japan-bound air tickets are being sold normally. 

A tourism industry insider told the Global Times that because travelers who had booked their trips in advance cannot easily cancel hotel reservations or local transportation arrangements in Japan, cancelling their plans could result in certain financial losses even though several Chinese airlines are offering free ticket refunds. Despite this, some travelers are still discussing on social media whether they should cancel their trips to Japan.

In response to a question about the travel reminders issued by various Chinese departments—advising Chinese citizens to avoid traveling to Japan—might affect many Chinese and dampen people-to-people exchanges, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Monday that the wrongful remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Taiwan have seriously hurt the feelings of the Chinese people and poisoned the atmosphere for people-to-people exchange between China and Japan. 

Japan needs to remain committed to the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan, correct the wrong remarks and actions at once, and avoid causing further damage to China-Japan relations, Mao said.

On Saturday, multiple Chinese airlines including Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Xiamen Airlines, Spring Airlines, and Sichuan Airlines announced special ticket-handling policies for flights involving Japan, allowing eligible passengers to change or refund their tickets free of charge.

China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism on Sunday issued an advisory urging Chinese tourists to avoid traveling to Japan for the time being.

On the same day, the Ministry of Education issued a study abroad warning, urging Chinese nationals to carefully plan study arrangements to Japan.

Lü Chao, president and associate professor at the Institute of American and East Asian Studies at Liaoning University, told the Global Times on Monday that the Foreign Ministry's advisory urging Chinese citizens to exercise caution when traveling to Japan is both necessary and timely. He noted that recent hostile narratives in Japanese media, along with inappropriate remarks by politician Sanae Takaichi, have coincided with reports of unfriendly treatment of some Chinese residents in Japan.

He said that the alert is likely to further dampen Chinese interest in visiting Japan. Beyond safety concerns, Takaichi's comments have angered many Chinese citizens, prompting some to abandon travel plans. A sharp decline in Chinese visitors, he added, would weigh on Japan's economy, which has long relied on Chinese students and tourists, as well as on stable economic ties with China.

Lü stressed that the impact may extend well beyond tourism and Japan is likely to bear the greater loss. He added that Chinese tourists have ample alternatives, from South Korea and Southeast Asia to the Middle East, and will naturally shift to other destinations if Japan continues an unfriendly path.

According to China Media Group, a researcher at Nomura Research Institute said on Sunday that if the number of Chinese tourists visiting Japan drops sharply, Japan's GDP would fall by 0.36 percent, with preliminary estimates putting the economic loss at 2.2 trillion yen ($14.23 billion).