The situation in the Middle East is casting a shadow over travel plans for Japan’s coming spring holidays. Although a growing number of people are expected to go overseas, some are having second thoughts.
Travel agency JTB estimates that more than 572,000 Japanese will go abroad and stay at least one night between April 25 and May 7.
That’s up 8.5 percent from a year ago.
But there are growing doubts about trips with flight transfers in the Middle East.
A travel agency that specializes in overseas tours has decided to call off trips to Europe and elsewhere that use airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha.
The cancellations go up to May 6 for departures from Japan.
Such routes are usually cheaper than flying direct.
But the worsening situation in Iran has forced the agency’s hand.
Some travelers are also cancelling tours. Switching to direct flights can raise the price by over 600 dollars.
Torimi Ryosuke of STWorld says: “The travel industry is basically a peacetime industry. People tend to not go abroad unless the situation is calm. We’re worried because we’re not sure when things will improve.”
The agency is also seeing cancellations among people going to the United States who are worried about possible retaliation from Iran.
AloJapan.com