South Korea's casino industry's performance is directly linked to inbound tourism, with Chinese visitor growth being the critical factor for the rest of the year. Analysts note a confirmed inbound boom, driven partly by a temporary visa-free program for Chinese group tourists launched last September.
Japan has increased visa fees for all foreigners five-fold, with single-entry visas rising to 15,000 yen and multi-entry to 30,000 yen. The first hike since 1978 aims to reflect inflation and the weakening yen, though authorities do not expect an immediate impact on tourism.
Japan has quintupled its visa fees for all foreigners, with single-entry visas rising to 15,000 yen and multi-entry visas to 30,000 yen, effective July 1. This marks the first increase since 1978, attributed to inflation and currency fluctuations.
Marubeni announced on the 2nd its acquisition of Okinawa Tourist (OTS), a Naha-based company, aiming to leverage its global network to attract more inbound tourists. Marubeni acquired 80% of OTS shares on the 1st.
South Korea's major retail companies saw revenue rise 5.6% year-on-year in March, driven by a record 2.06 million foreign tourists and back-to-school shopping demand. Department stores surged 14.7% while online platforms grew 8.1% and now account for 60.6% of total retail sales. Offline supermarkets declined 15.2% as e-commerce continues to expand.
Japan Airlines will trial humanoid robots at Tokyo's Haneda airport from May, becoming one of the first airlines globally to deploy androids for ground handling tasks. The 130cm-tall Chinese-made Unitree robots will move luggage and cargo on the tarmac, addressing chronic labor shortages amid a surge in inbound tourism. The three-year trial ends in 2028 and could lead to permanent deployment.
