Hong Kong travellers continue to favour Japan as a holiday destination despite ongoing geopolitical tensions between Beijing and Tokyo, thanks to unaffected flight routes and a weaker yen, local industry operators have said.
Travel agencies also identified mainland China as the top destination for Hong Kong travel groups, as they gathered at an exhibition on Thursday to promote packages for the coming spring season.
Beijing recently issued a warning to its citizens, cautioning them against travelling to Japan during the coming Lunar New Year holiday, as the row over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s November comments about Taiwan rumbled on.
State broadcaster CCTV reported that February flights along 49 routes between China and Japan had been cancelled.
However, Moon Yau Moon-yee, assistant general manager at Sunflower Travel Services and vice-chairman of the Tourism Industry Employees’ General Union, said Hong Kong tour groups bound for Japan were largely unaffected by the tensions.
Flights from the city to Japan have not been affected, Yau said, adding that the weaker yen has further encouraged Hongkongers to spend there.