China’s major airlines have extended free refund and rescheduling policies for Japan-bound tickets to late March 2026, as weekly Sino-Japanese flight volumes drop and travellers redirect winter plans to Russia, Central Asia and domestic ice-and-snow destinations.

Japan travel slowdown prompts extended airline waivers

Major carriers — Air China, China Eastern and China Southern — have pushed their 31 December deadline for penalty-free refunds and rebooking to 28 March, the end of the winter–spring travel season. The move follows China’s November travel advisories discouraging trips to Japan after controversial remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding China’s Taiwan.

Flight Master data show Sino-Japanese round-trip flights fell to 1,167 during 24–30 November, the lowest in a month, with recovery rates dipping to 78.1%. The projected cancellation rate for December flights rose to 26.4%. Airlines have begun redeploying aircraft to Southeast Asia and high-demand domestic routes, and insiders expect the impact to stretch beyond the Spring Festival period.

Russia sees surge as visa-free policy reshapes winter travel

A major shift is visible in outbound travel demand following Russia’s decision to grant Chinese citizens visa-free entry for up to 30 days until 14 September 2026. Beijing-based agency UTour reported that enquiries doubled after the policy came into force, led by Spring Festival travel planning.

Murmansk, known for aurora viewing and ice-snow tourism, has emerged as a key draw. Tour operators expect Russia’s appeal to widen among mid- to high-end winter travellers, especially as Japan-bound skiing demand declines.

(Read about how regional outbound trends impact Indian winter tourism in earlier coverage via News Karnataka: NK Winter Travel Trends 2024 and NK Global Travel Shifts.)

Central Asia and Europe gain from ‘Japan substitution effect’

Kazakhstan is rapidly becoming a favourite for ski tourism, supported by improved connectivity from major Chinese cities. Tongcheng Travel data show:

  • 50%+ year-on-year rise in flight bookings from early December to the New Year period
  • 80%+ growth in hotel reservations
  • Almaty and Astana ranked top choices

Analysts describe an accelerating “Japan substitution effect” since late November, with outbound ski demand shifting to Kazakhstan and Nordic countries. Parallel growth has been observed across Europe, with hotel bookings rising 300%+ in Germany and Spain, and 200%+ in Denmark and Switzerland.

For context on the tourism sector’s adaptive trends, see the broader economic backdrop on Wikipedia:
Tourism in China

Domestic winter destinations boom as provinces roll out incentives

China’s domestic market is responding swiftly. Jilin province has introduced ¥100 million worth of ice-snow vouchers and free ski passes for university students, while Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang have launched similar schemes.

Qunar reports strong demand:

  • Hotel bookings in Xinjiang’s Bortala region up 80%+ year-on-year
  • Reservations in Dandong (Liaoning), Liaoyuan (Jilin), and Yichun (Heilongjiang) each rising ~30%

Glacier and snow mountain tourism is also accelerating, with Meili Snow Mountain (Yunnan) and Xiling Snow Mountain (Sichuan) recording double last year’s ticket bookings.

China’s ski industry surpasses Switzerland in total visits

According to a Chinese ski industry white paper, the country now has 748 operational ski resorts, including 66 indoor centres. Ski visits reached 26.05 million last winter, a 12.9% rise, surpassing Switzerland’s 23.1 million. Average ski days per participant increased from 1.80 to 1.92, signalling stronger engagement and loyalty among domestic skiers.