40 Hong Kong tour groups safe after magnitude 7.5 quake strikes Japan

    40 Hong Kong tour groups safe after magnitude 7.5 quake strikes Japan

    Hong Kong travellers in Japan were reported safe by at least one major tour operator while the Immigration Department said it was closely monitoring the situation after a powerful earthquake struck off the country’s northeast coast on Monday, triggering tsunami warnings. Steve Huen Kwok-chuen, executive director of EGL Tours, said the operator currently had about…

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    Hongkongers urged to secure travel insurance as bear attacks rise in Japan

    Hongkongers urged to secure travel insurance as bear attacks rise in Japan

    Hongkongers visiting Japan should purchase adequate travel insurance, remain vigilant and avoid entering sealed-off areas known for bear attacks, or they may risk losing their coverage, tourism industry leaders have warned. The warnings came after a rise in bear attacks in Japan over the weekend, prompting the closure of popular destinations known for autumn foliage…

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    Hongkongers undeterred by Japan’s plan to tackle overtourism through taxes, experts say

    Hongkongers undeterred by Japan’s plan to tackle overtourism through taxes, experts say

    Hongkongers’ enthusiasm for travelling to Japan is expected to remain robust even as more municipalities in the country plan to impose lodging taxes to ease overtourism, according to industry leaders. Steve Huen Kwok-chuen, executive director of EGL Tours, which specialises in package tours to Japan, also said on Sunday that the additional tax was unlikely…

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    Surge in Hongkongers visiting Japan expected after manga ‘megaquake’ fears fade

    Surge in Hongkongers visiting Japan expected after manga ‘megaquake’ fears fade

    Hongkongers’ enthusiasm for visiting Japan is expected to rebound “explosively” in the coming days and months after fears of a “megaquake” predicted in a manga proved unfounded, an industry leader has said. Steve Huen Kwok-chuen, executive director of EGL Tours, said on Monday that rumours of a July 5 earthquake had earlier caused significant concern…

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    Hong Kong tourists undeterred by manga prediction that quake will hit Japan on July 5

    Hong Kong tourists undeterred by manga prediction that quake will hit Japan on July 5

    Hong Kong travel agencies have not recorded widespread cancellations of Japan-bound tour groups for the coming weekend, despite a manga artist’s widely discussed prediction that a mega-earthquake will hit the country on Saturday. But some business insiders suggested the number of tours this summer was expected to fall by half compared with last year. The…

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    Group tour prices from Hong Kong drop 10% as tourists opt for alternatives to Japan

    Group tour prices from Hong Kong drop 10% as tourists opt for alternatives to Japan

    Hong Kong travel agencies have launched cheaper outbound group tours this summer, driven by increased flight capacity amid a shift in tourists’ preference away from Japan due to increased earthquake concerns. Several tour operators have reported that prices for their summer group tours are either lower or have remained stable, adding that popular destinations include…

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