Sing Tao
Hong Kong travel agencies saw a decline in demand for Japan tours amid concerns over a potential major earthquake this summer, with some operators seeing a 20 percent drop in bookings.
Wing On Travel general manager Simon Ma Sai-man said some customers are hesitant to visit Japan, leading to a shift in preferences.
“Many travelers are opting for alternative destinations like South Korea, Taiwan, mainland China, and even Europe,” he said.
Despite the 20 percent dip in Japan tour bookings, Ma noted a 20 percent overall increase in travel bookings in the past two weeks.
Meanwhile, WWPKG executive director Yuen Chun-ning said inquiries and bookings for Japan tours in the upcoming Easter holidays have halved compared to last year.
To attract families, the agency is offering a “free child tour package” for summer Japan trips, allowing two adults to bring one child under 12 for free, excluding taxes and fees.
“Each tour has up to 15 spots, and we hope this will appeal to family guests,” Yuen said.
He added that additional measures have been introduced, including earthquake-related insurance and refund policies for cancellations during red travel alerts, to reassure customers and boost travel confidence.
Ayra Wang
AloJapan.com