Chinese tourists in Myeong-dong, Seoul. (Image : Yonhap)
SEOUL, Oct. 5 (Korea Bizwire) – Chinese tourists, famous for leaving shelves bare when they shop abroad, went on a a shopping spree in Korea, Japan and the U.S. during the National Holiday of the People’s Republic of China.
According to a Chinese journal, many Chinese tourists visited Korea and Japan during the holidays, with shopping as the main reason for travel.
Chinese tourists shopping at duty free stores. (Image : Yonhap)
Chinese tourists flocked to duty free stores in Seoul, Busan and Jeju, as well as large discount stores and markets, clearing off the shelves. The Korean press reported instances of Chinese tourists buying hundreds of thousands of won worth of cosmetics in two or three hours at duty free stores.
Chinese tourists shopping at duty free stores. (Image : Yonhap)
In Japan, Chinese tourists were bought over the counter drugs in bulk. Cough medicine, painkillers, glasses, sleep shades, and stationary are popular Japanese products among Chinese tourists. In addition, baby products are said to be the most popular product that Chinese tourists rush into purchasing.
Earlier this year, during the Chinese New Year Holiday, Japanese electronic rice cookers and bidets were cleaned off the shelves by Chinese tourists.
Tour guides say that the average Chinese tourist that visits Japan spends approximately 20,000 to 30,000 Yuan, which is around $3,140 to $4,720, on shopping.
Chinese tourists at the Jeju airport duty free store. (Image : Yonhap)
Furthermore, the U.S. was not an exception to the shelf clearing of Chinese tourists. According to a local tour operators in Boston, Chinese tourists stopped by a Gucci Outlet to buy bags, and most of them bought three or four bags at once, with some purchasing six or even seven bags at most. “They were shopping as if they were just grabbing free stuff,” said a local guide.
By Francine Jung (francine.jung@kobizmedia.co.kr)
