Following the fading viral apocalyptic earthquake prophecy in Japan, airlines and travel agencies are seizing the opportunity to revive interest among travelers, with some offering over 100 discounted trips.
Speaking on a radio program this morning, Steve Huen Kwok-chuen, executive director of travel agency EGL Tours, mentioned that the industry swiftly rolled out discounts following July 5.
In collaboration with airlines and banks, Huen added that a five-day summer trip to Osaka, which previously cost around HK$11,000, is now available for under HK$5,000 after discounts.
Tour registrations back to normal after July 5
While there would typically be ten tours departing daily during past summers, totaling two to three hundred travelers, Huen reported that only three tours operated on July 5, with merely ten attendees.
"The night is the darkest just before the dawn," Huen said.
Huen highlighted that the company has received over 4,000 queries on Japan vacations in the last two days, indicating that tour registration had returned to normal levels prior to the earthquake rumors.
With the peak autumn foliage season approaching in September and October, Huen expressed optimism that the business could exceed last year's numbers, as many travelers are eager to fulfill their desire for a Japan adventure after the earthquake rumors.
Japan's offers for Hong Kong tourists
Moreover, Huen noted that various Japanese tourism boards across different prefectures are collaborating with travel agencies to provide financial incentives, such as allowances for dining, in order to further decrease the overall costs of tours.
Noting that there were approximately 2.78 million visits from Hong Kong to Japan last year, Huen stressed the importance of the Hong Kong market for Japanese tourism, considering citizens' high spending power.
Regarding the circulating "prophecy" in the city, Huan joked about the daily media coverage of the rumors every day since February and March, as if it were true.
Acknowledging such sensational stories can draw attention, Huen quipped that "people would be lectured by others if they try to go to Japan during that period."
Separately, HK Express also offers steep discounts for all 13 of its Japan flight paths, including popular spots such as Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Nagoya, Okinawa, Sendai, Shizuoka, Ishigaki and so on.
(Phoebe Poon and Natasha Ng)
