15th April 2025 – (Hong Kong) The ongoing concerns over a potential “Nankai Trough Megathrust Earthquake” have significantly dampened Hong Kong travellers’ interest in Japan this year. Recent warnings from Japanese experts have raised awareness of the possible catastrophic effects of such an earthquake, including tsunamis exceeding 10 meters and substantial economic losses. This has led to a decline in demand for travel to Japan, prompting airlines to adjust their operations.
Travel agencies have also been heavily impacted. WWPKG reported that their Japan tour bookings for Easter this year were only half of those seen last year. Managing Director Yuen Chun-ning shared that despite efforts to attract customers through discounts, earthquake refund guarantees, and offers such as free travel for children, consumer confidence remains low. He predicted that the number of Japan tour bookings will inevitably fall compared to last year.
To cope with decreased demand, airlines are scaling back operations. Hong Kong Airlines is set to reduce flights to Japan between May and June, affecting routes to Fukuoka, Nagoya, and Sapporo, among others. Similarly, Greater Bay Airlines announced that its Hong Kong-Tokushima route will cut weekly flights from three to two starting 12th May, citing market conditions as the reason for the adjustment. The airline assured passengers that affected ticket holders will be notified and provided with options such as refunds or alternative arrangements.
Meanwhile, Cathay Pacific has lowered its summer ticket prices for Japan to record-breaking levels. Economy-class tickets, including 23 kilograms of checked luggage, are now priced at just over HK$2,000—a sharp 20% drop compared to earlier this year. Yuen noted that booking flights to Japan has become easier due to the oversupply of seats, a situation exacerbated by reduced demand and surplus aircraft from pre-pandemic orders.
Despite these efforts, Yuen observed that travellers are leaning toward other destinations with growing demand for tours to Europe, Australia, and the Middle East. He suggested that consumers are not without spending power but are prioritizing destinations perceived as safer or more appealing.
