Hong Kong travel agencies are reporting a 20 to 30 percent decline in inquiries for tours to Japan amid rising Sino-Japanese tensions and newly updated travel advisories.
The downturn follows warnings issued by China’s foreign ministry and Hong Kong’s Security Bureau, both urging citizens to exercise caution when traveling in Japan.
Aside from the fall in interest, agencies say more customers are calling to ask about cancellation terms.
“I receive a handful of inquiries daily about changing destinations or dates, with some wondering about the cancellation arrangements,” said Yuen Chun-ning, executive director of travel agency WWPKG.
Yuen stressed that unless the government raises its travel alert or flights are canceled, tours will continue as planned, and standard cancellation fees will apply.
Amid the uncertainty, several mainland carriers have begun offering more flexible cancellation and rebooking options for passengers with Japan-bound tickets.
Cathay Pacific Airways said it understands that some travelers may need to adjust their plans for various reasons and is committed to providing assistance. HK Express added that it is closely monitoring official travel advisories and will offer flexible arrangements to eligible passengers, encouraging those with concerns to contact customer service.
The shift in sentiment comes just as Japan’s tourism market had begun recovering from earlier earthquake-related worries. About 196,000 Hongkongers visited Japan last month, a slight year-on-year drop of one percent.
AloJapan.com