Following a significant earthquake in Japan, travel operators remain positive about tourism prospects, citing minimal disruptions.
- The earthquake hit the Noto peninsula, with reports confirming 77 fatalities and warnings from the UK Foreign Office about possible aftershocks.
- InsideJapan reported having over 300 clients in Japan, with only 15 in the affected areas, all of whom are safe and continuing their travels.
- Wendy Wu Tours reassures that its operations remain unaffected due to no scheduled tours in the impacted region.
- Riviera Travel and Newmarket Holidays are closely monitoring the situation to ensure continued safety and operational plans for future tours.
Following the powerful earthquake that struck Japan’s Noto peninsula on New Year’s Day, resulting in at least 77 fatalities, several travel operators are maintaining an optimistic outlook. The UK Foreign Office has issued a travel alert, advising of potential aftershocks and disruptions in transportation. However, specialist operators like InsideJapan have emphasized minimal impact on tourists, stating that their customers in Japan are safe and continuing with their trips.
InsideJapan, with over 300 clients in Japan, reported that only 15 were in the affected area. The company’s on-ground team is actively monitoring the situation, providing assurance that their clients are well and proceeding with scheduled activities. As a spokesperson stated, “Our team on the ground are continuing to monitor the situation.”
Wendy Wu Tours expressed confidence in Japan’s infrastructure resilience, highlighting the country’s rigorous earthquake preparedness protocols. Although Wendy Wu Tours does not operate in the most affected region, they reassure that any potential operational impact is minimal.
Riviera Travel announced that its upcoming tours, starting in late February, will proceed as planned while keeping abreast of any updates from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Meanwhile, Newmarket Holidays, with tours scheduled to start in October, sees little risk to its plans given their focus on other regions such as Tokyo and the south of Japan.
Chris Crampton, chair of the Pacific Asia Travel Association UK chapter, pointed out that the affected area is primarily rural with limited tourist attraction, which reduces the impact on mainstream travel itineraries. Tours, according to Crampton, will continue with customer safety as the pinnacle concern.
The tourism industry remains hopeful for minimal disruption to Japan tours, given the country’s established preparedness and operational adjustments by travel operators.
