Nowhere is the boom in tourism from China over the past decade more palpable than among neighbors of the country, Asia’s largest economy. But perceived economic benefits can be used as a political weapon when Beijing wants to send a message. Many Chinese tourists are boycotting South Korea in response to its deployment of an antimissile system that China considers a threat to its security. In March, Chinese tourist arrivals in South Korea were 40 percent lower than a year earlier, dragging total arrivals in the period down 11 percent. Hong Kong had a similar experience after pro-democracy demonstrations in 2014. Read more
