The impact of popular nationalism on Chinese tourist flows to Japan

This study examines the role of popular nationalism as a potential to constrain Chinese outbound travel. Undertaken within an interpretative paradigm using in-depth interviews, this study offers a unique perspective on the impact of Chinese popular nationalism as a political travel constraint to Japan using the Diaoyu/Senkaku Island Incident. The study shows that Chinese popular nationalism emerged as a major travel constraint that now shapes the geopolitical environment of outbound Chinese tourism in contemporary China. Findings of this study offer important implications for both scholars and practitioners in understanding the Chinese popular nationalism phenomenon.