Hongkongers visiting Japan in April rise by more than 40%

The number of Hong Kong tourists who travelled to Japan last month rose by more than 40 per cent compared with a year ago, reversing a downward trend.

But tour operators on Monday were hesitant to link the increase to more Hongkongers wanting to visit the country ahead of a mega-earthquake some have speculated will hit in July, with one operator being “cautiously optimistic” about tour demand in the coming summer peak season.

The country welcomed 263,600 Hong Kong residents in April, a 42.9 per cent jump from the 184,460 visitors in the same month last year, according to data from the Japan National Tourism Organisation released on Friday.

Hong Kong residents visiting Japan in February and March dropped by 5 and 9.9 per cent year-on-year, respectively, which the organisation attributed to major holidays such as Lunar New Year and Easter falling on different months this year.

Between January and April, Japan welcomed 911,200 people from Hong Kong, a 12.8 per cent increase from the same period last year.

The organisation attributed the rise in visitor numbers to the new route from Hong Kong to Komatsu in Ishikawa prefecture and the resumption of flights to Ishigaki in Okinawa prefecture.