A major international tourism fair is underway in China ahead of a week-long holiday. Japanese officials are on hand to promote sightseeing spots and tourism programs to bring in visitors.

The three-day expo began on Friday in the southern city of Guangzhou. Officials from more than 50 countries and regions are taking part. The National Day holiday begins later this month, and is the first since Beijing lifted anti-coronavirus restrictions in January.

One major travel agency says it is receiving as many as 20 times the reservations for overseas travel than for the same period last year. But some are voicing concerns over visiting Japan because of the release of treated and diluted water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

A male visitor said, "I'll think carefully. Health is the most important thing."

A female visitor said, "I'm visiting Tokyo. There are many locations in Japan I've never been to, so I also want to go to regional areas."

An official with the Japan National Tourism Organization says people are taking a wait-and-see attitude toward coming to Japan.