China tech giant Baidu will link up with major Japanese companies like Mitsui Realty to offer free phone service to Chinese visiting Japan, according to Nihon Keizai Shinbun.
Statistics show that the number of Chinese visiting Japan reached 2.4 million in 2014, up 80%, and Baidu is used daily by 70% of Chinese netizens. The free phone service on offer from March is aimed to promote more Chinese visits to Japan.
As most Chinese travelers do not use international roaming, they must buy local SIM cards when they go abroad. Baidu and its Japanese partners are keen to woo Chinese travelers by offering a SIM card with shopping coupon gift service to Chinese during their stay in Japan.
In the promotion, Baidu sells Japan SIM cards with seven-day validity for 3,000 yen (approx: US$25) each to Chinese travelers. Then Japanese partners like Mitsui Realty will in return offer each buyer a coupon of equivalent value that can be used for purchases in Mitsui’s facilities such as malls and the popular cosmetics outlet chain Matsumoto Drugstore.
Meanwhile, Baidu is also partnering with JAL/ANA subsidiary low-cost carrier Vanilla Air to offer direct air ticket sales on Baidu websites.(Translation by David)
