Hong Kong travel agencies expect a 30 to 40 percent increase in visitors to Japan this year, despite ongoing political tensions and Beijing's calls for citizens to avoid travel there, Japanese media reported.
According to Nikkei China, a Hong Kong travel agency executive at a recent tourism fair said bookings for Japan trips have been growing steadily over the past two months, projecting strong growth for the full year. The report noted Beijing's advisory urging people to postpone travel to Japan has had "almost no influence" in Hong Kong.
It highlighted that repeat visitors to Japan are common in Hong Kong, with many citing the crowded, competitive city's desire for "spiritual healing" in Japan. The weak yen has further fueled the trend, the report said.
In contrast, mainland Chinese visitors to Japan dropped sharply by 45.3 percent in December year-on-year, while Hong Kong visitor numbers increased 1.9 percent, turning positive after seven months.
Airlines are responding to the demand, with Greater Bay Airlines planning charter flights to Osaka's Kansai airport and Hong Kong Airlines to Kagoshima during Hong Kong's April public holidays. The report also noted increased numbers of mainland Chinese using Hong Kong airport to transit to Japan, suggesting strong grassroots desire for exchanges despite official tensions.
Citing a 51-year-old Hong Kong office worker planning two or three trips this year, Nikkei wrote: "I don't think Japan's public safety has gotten worse."
