Tourists visit Kokusai Street in Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, on June 22, 2025. Photo: VCG

In the wake of escalating backlash over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's provocative remarks on the Taiwan question, a representative from the Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau (OCVB) told the Global Times in an exclusive interview on Wednesday that the bureau views the development as "regrettable" and is closely watching how both the national government and Okinawa Prefecture respond. 

"Above all, we hope the situation stabilizes soon," the representative said in an email sent to the Global Times, adding that the bureau is currently gathering relevant information.

Concerns are also growing among tourism operators in Okinawa after the Chinese Foreign Ministry urged its citizens to refrain from traveling to Japan. Okinawa expects to welcome a record 10.88 million tourists in 2025, and the prefecture remains highly popular among Chinese travelers. Many in the industry fear that "hotels and duty-free shops may be affected," Japan's Nikkei reported.  

According to the Ryukyu Shimpo, an official of the Okinawa Prefectural Department of Culture, Tourism and Sports, pointed out that visitors from the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong account for a significant share of the prefecture's inbound market. He said the prefectural government "will work closely with relevant organizations to share information and respond swiftly if any impact emerges."

"Tourism has helped deepen mutual understanding between the two sides. Confrontation is not in anyone's interest. We hope both sides will move toward each other," Ryukyu Shimpo quoted chairman of the Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau as saying.

Takaichi claimed at a Diet meeting on November 7 that the Chinese mainland's "use of force on Taiwan" could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan. She refused to retract her remarks which imply the possibility of armed intervention in the Taiwan Straits.

Multiple Chinese ministries and government agencies have condemned the Japanese side's related moves and remarks, warning that Japan would face a resolute response if it dared to meddle in the Taiwan question, amid ongoing backlash at home and abroad triggered by the erroneous and provocative remarks of Takaichi.

So far, alerts advising Chinese nationals to avoid traveling or studying in Japan have been issued by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Chinese Embassy and Consulates in Japan, and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Ministry of Education.

Several Chinese travel agencies have warned that trips to Japan may be affected and some tour products could be suspended, as the Global Times confirmed on Monday.

According to The Guardian, citing an air travel analyst, departure data suggested about 500,000 flight tickets to Japan had been cancelled between 15 and 17 November.

Global Times