Photo/Illutration Tourists walk in the Ginza district of Tokyo’s Chuo Ward on Nov. 17. (Nobuo Fujiwara)

Four in 10 Japanese companies say they haven't been hurt by a Chinese government advisory urging its citizens to limit travel to Japan, according to a survey that suggests the economic damage has been limited.

Teikoku Databank Ltd. on Dec. 12 released the results of a survey conducted a few weeks after the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on its citizens to exercise self-restraint in traveling to Japan.

Of the respondents, 40.8 percent of Japanese companies reported that “there is no impact.”

According to the research firm’s analysis, “many companies are taking the (call for) travel self-restraint in stride and see the impact as limited.”

China warned its citizens about traveling to Japan on Nov. 14 as tensions heated up after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi responded to a question in the Diet concerning a Taiwan contingency. 

The questionnaire was conducted from Dec. 5 to 9. A total of 1,197 companies responded from across the country: 147 large corporations and 1,050 small and midsize enterprises.

The survey found that 42.8 percent reported that there is “a negative impact.”

A food and beverage company said, “We cannot substitute (Chinese customers) with Japanese people, and we are seeing a decrease in the number of customers.”

A precision machinery company said, “From the perspective of ensuring safety, we have no choice but to also refrain from outbound travel from Japan.”

On the other hand, 5.6 percent answered that there is “a positive impact.”

Some respondents expressed hope that room rates for business hotels, which had soared due to a rapid increase in foreign visitors, would fall, and that congestion at tourist spots would be eased.

Some companies viewed it positively as an opportunity to encourage Japanese companies to “reduce their dependence on China.”

A manufacturing company said, “This will advance the review of our excessive dependence on China.”

Looking ahead, the combined share of “positive” (11.1 percent) and “no impact” (35.8 percent) responses exceeded that of “negative” (36.4 percent).

However, strong concerns were voiced by realtors catering to international students as well as condominium sellers.

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