Japan's Tourism Woes Continue For No Reason

[ArmandV]

Yes, there was an earthquake, tsunami and the nuclear plant in Fukushima still has problems. But the Japan tourism industry throughout Japan has been battered:
Japan Tourism Woes Continue For No Reason

 

[Elizabeth]

I did my part for two weeks before the quake and won't be getting back until September. But more power to anyone who can still afford their Japanese vacation. A very big reason, in the US at least, IS American air carriers responding to low demand by drastically cutting capacity and increasing rates faster and faster. It could well be a worldwide tourism induced suicide phenomenon. .

 

[ArmandV]

I did my part for two weeks before the quake and won't be getting back until September. But more power to anyone who can still afford their Japanese vacation. A very big reason, in the US at least, IS American air carriers responding to low demand by drastically cutting capacity and increasing rates faster and faster. It could well be a worldwide tourism induced suicide phenomenon. .

I was there in December, and I'll probably go back around December or January (when my bank account is back to full).

Besides the airline problem, the dollar/yen exchange rate is not too inviting either.

 

[Glenski]

One thing's for sure. The blog is dead on when it says people around the world don't seem to have a clue about Japan's geography.

 

[Nieves and Co]

True indeed my friend...

 

[ArmandV]

Some bit of good news:

Tohoku Shinkansen To Resume Full Operations April 29

 

[Nieves and Co]

Good to know.
Those trains are different than the ones in New York... -.-

 

[Pachipro]

You can blame the medias need for hype and viewership/readership for the drop in tourism. As Glenski said, people have nary a clue as to the geography of Japan. One can still visit, Tokyo, Western Japan, Hokkaido , etc. If you listen to US news (although there is not much these days) all of Japan is radiated and store shelves are bare. A recent news article stated that all imports from Japan, including cars, are being tested for radiation contamination!

 

[Rube]

I'd be more worried about Chinese and Korean tourists than Americans. Americans make up very little of the total number, about 700,000 in 2010 compared to 2,439,816 Koreans, 1,268,278 Chinese (Taiwan), 1,412,875 China, 508,691 Hong Kong and so on with other Asian counties topping the list.

 

[Elizabeth]

You can blame the medias need for hype and viewership/readership for the drop in tourism. As Glenski said, people have nary a clue as to the geography of Japan. One can still visit, Tokyo, Western Japan, Hokkaido, etc. If you listen to US news (although there is not much these days) all of Japan is radiated and store shelves are bare. A recent news article stated that all imports from Japan, including cars, are being tested for radiation contamination!

How can there still be panic hype from the media ? There hasn't been ANY news on the situation in days.

If foreigners don't travel, it is called fear mongering and over-reacting; if the shoe is on the other foot and Japanese hunker down for a period of mourning, it's called voluntary self restraint. Got to love the double standards.

 

[Rube]

How can there still be panic hype from the media ? There hasn't been ANY news on the situation in days.

In days? And you think a few days or even weeks can make up for the panic the media caused? I don't. I think it will take years. Days? Come on.

If foreigners don't travel, it is called fear mongering and over-reacting; if the shoe is on the other foot and Japanese hunker down for a period of mourning, it's called voluntary self restraint. Got to love the double standards.

Double standards? You're trying to compare mourning with tourism?

It's not a very hard point to follow Liz, the media's reporting has helped hurt tourism in Japan. If you think the media was spot on in it's reporting and responsible that's your perogative, people in Japan have a different opinion for the most part.

 

[Elizabeth]

In days? And you think a few days or even weeks can make up for the panic the media caused? I don't. I think it will take years. Days? Come on.
Double standards? You're trying to compare mourning with tourism?
It's not a very hard point to follow Liz, the media's reporting has helped hurt tourism in Japan. If you think the media was spot on in it's reporting and responsible that's your perogative, people in Japan have a different opinion for the most part.

No doubt the Japanese economy is in a severe situation and they need to take the lead in restoring it. What is clearly having a negative effect on tourism and travel in the US is jet fuel prices going up above certain levels and the fuel surcharge becomes another added cost. Spiking gas prices only happened to more or less coincide with the earthquake.

 

[Rube]

No doubt the Japanese economy is in a severe situation and they need to take the lead in restoring it

They need to take the lead in restoring it? Who else would take the lead? But yeah, great insight.

What is clearly having a negative effect on tourism and travel in the US is jet fuel prices going up above certain levels and the fuel surcharge becomes another added cost.

This is not a thread about US tourism.

Spiking gas prices only happened to more or less coincide with the earthquake.

You might be able to find a person who cancelled their trip to Japan based on gas prices, and pigs might fly one day. Knicks might win a championships. In other words, get real.

 

[Elizabeth]

You might be able to find a person who cancelled their trip to Japan based on gas prices, and pigs might fly one day. Knicks might win a championships. In other words, get real.

Try convincing the airlines they aren't harmed by rising oil prices. Jet fuel prices are up 50% in the past year and tickets around 20%. How much of a survey do you need ? I'm certainly holding off on buying another ticket.

 

[Rube]

And that would be a problem if you or people like you were a significant portion of the tourism trade here, but you aren't. If you lived in Japan you would know that. Koreans cancelled schools because of "radioactive rain," they could care less about 20% increase in ticket price.

Just take a look at the numbers, the bulk of tourism in Japan comes from Asia, cheaper tickets to being with. Plus Americans don't spend much here compared to Chinese. Don't see many American tourists buying rolexes.

Why is honesty so hard in conversations? You might be pissed about your higher ticket price but I can't believe you are being honest if you think that is what the Japanese tourist industry is worried about right now.

Even if prices never drop you'll come back.

 

[Elizabeth]

And that would be a problem if you or people like you were a significant portion of the tourism trade here, but you aren't. If you lived in Japan you would know that. Koreans cancelled schools because of "radioactive rain," they could care less about 20% increase in ticket price.

It is true that in the short term Korea and Japan have been scared off by the radiation even more than the Westerners. It is also the case that pricing pressures are going to determine whether airlines return to full capacity/normal pricing to the country by the latter half of this year. Fuel costs have risen, travel to Japan has been reduced, tourism from Japan to other countries has dropped...No reason for anyone to change their immediate plans but no real incentive to make new ones either.

 

[Rube]

If you have one fact to back up your "truths" I'd be very shocked. Talking out of your *** never goes out of style.

Just checked the prices

Seoul 12,000yen
Hong Kong 19,800yen

20% on that doesn't mean anything.

 

[ArmandV]

The price spikes in oil is worldwide, not just for the U.S. This retards tourism everywhere besides Japan.

Taking the argument that "nothing's been said for weeks" re: media hype. The damage was already done and the Japanese tourism industry has to overcome the misconceptions already presented. Also, it is up to companies outside of Japan to counteract the hype about radiation, etc. to their potential customers. It will be a tough sell, but it can be done over time.

There are stories out in the U.S. media on the continuing troubles of the Fukushima nuclear plant. This feeds into hype that was already spread.

 

[Glenski]

How can there still be panic hype from the media ? There hasn't been ANY news on the situation in days.

Where do you get your news, Elizabeth? I see earthquake/radiation/tsunami related news in the Daily Yomiuri and The Japan Times and on TV every day.

 

[Grandpa Frank]

I watch ABC news...........

and have not seen Japan memtioned for more then 5 seconds or not at all. The Mideast and the royal wedding buried Japan news weeks ago. My local (Maine) newspaper has nothing about Japan anymore either. Maybe it depends where you live?

Uncle Frank

:?

 

[Rube]

Where you live and where you get your news. CNN web site is still doing stories with headlines like "How worried should we be about Japan"

Have to wonder what kind of news China and Korea are running.

edit: Was just watching sukkiri (morning talk show) and they did a segment on foriegn media's piss poor reporting and well some of it was pretty funny, most of it was disgusting.

One of the things I hope people, especially Americans, start to realize is that news is not that reliable and they will make it up in a second to meet a deadline. Be it Japan or Iraq, news needs to be taken with a grain a salt.

 

[Emoni]

Yes, irresponsible "foreign media" played a part in fear and hype, but I'd argue that irresponsible handling by the government, horrible handling by TEPCO, and the justifiable lack of trust about the situation initially (and still) due to

I have little sympathy for those blaming "scared gaijin" when this could have not only been prevented by the Japanese government and TEPCO, but could have been handled in a much more honest and transparent way that would not have fueled such fear.

Japan, look in the mirror first before you start jumping and blaming your foreign visitors and tourists.

I'm in Tokyo, and while it is safe here and other areas for now, I have little faith that TEPCO management is handling the situation well. I only feel sorry for the workers and those in that area who are risking their lives (or will lose them) trying to clean up a mess that was created by outright criminal irresponsibility.

(Note: I'm not excusing irresponsible reporting in anyway, I only am stressing that much could have been avoided if looking at the problem from the SOURCE first. I was the first one to be quite angered by the horrible way CNN and FOX were both reporting the issue. I didn't trust FOX before, but now CNN has joined them on my "don't waste time watching them" list.)

 

[kraystone]

Same here, I don't have much confidence with TEPCO but they are our only hope. Just pray that there's no more major quakes and tsunami to hit there!

Meanwhile in Singapore, there's a lot of discounted tour packages inclusive of a round trip ticket + 4-star hotel stay, 3D2N for only 20,000yen! More than 75% cheaper than my round-trip ticket for 9 months! My friend is coming next month because of that, so I believe foreign tourists will slowly come back!

 

[Emoni]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110430/ap_on_re_as/as_japan_earthquake

Not to say that there isn't plenty of anger at the Japanese government already... not without reason. Interesting article.

 

[ArmandV]

Playing "Devil's Advocate" here. TEPCO, the Japanese government and media all messed up to some degree (some more so than others). We can all pretty much agree on that.

On the TEPCO and government's side, they were hit by an extraordinary disaster in scope. How often does Japan get hit by a 9.0 quake, an enormous tsunami and nuclear crisis? This hasn't happened before there in modern history. They were shocked by the gravity of the crisis. They were caught flat-footed.

I have lost whatever little faith I had in the U.S. mainstream media two years ago, so I am not surprised that the MSM did such shoddy reporting on the quake and its aftermath.