Recent forecasts of potential earthquakes have impacted Japanese tourism in the coming months, first seen in reduced flight bookings. Hong Kong Airlines has announced reduced flights to Japan in response to declining booking rates in May and June.
Hong Kong Airlines: Flight Restructure with Reduced Bookings
Responding to another local news outlet based in Hong Kong, the airline announced a reduction in flights connecting Hong Kong to major Japanese tourist destinations, including Sapporo, Fukuoka and Nagoya. This is because of reduced bookings on these routes. The airline promises to handle with care all affected bookings and find a solution for all travellers.
Japan has always been one of the most popular tourist destinations in East Asia for both regional and international travellers. This popularity is further proven by flights connecting Japan and other Asian regions, ranking amongst the top 10 busiest flight routes in 2024.
Japan: Earthquake-prone Travel Hotspot
Located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Japanese archipelago is on the borders of the Pacific and the Eurasian plates. Continuous plate movements build tension along plate boundaries. Thus, Japan has been a constant hotspot of tectonic hazards including earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions. This has always been a factor affecting Japanese tourism, with travellers taking into consideration the potential of being struck by an earthquake while travelling.
A recent forecast shows that the next huge earthquake to hit Japan could kill almost 300,000 people. This news has reduced travellers’ desire to go to the country with increased risks. Reduced flights to Japan due to lower demand are one of the first impacts brought to the aviation industry.
Would you travel to Japan this year with the earthquake forecast? Share your thoughts below.
