Earthquake rumors unsettle Japan: Tourism collapses!

Earthquake rumors unsettle Japan: Tourism collapses!

Japan's tourism sector is facing a serious challenge. Despite overall positive growth in 2023, boosted by a weak yen, visitor numbers from key markets such as Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea have fallen sharply. The reason for this decline is rumors of an impending earthquake that spread through a viral manga. In particular, the prediction of an earthquake in July 2023 from the comic “The Future I Saw” by Ryo Tatsuki has unsettled travelers.

This prediction presented by artist Ryo Tatsuki, made back in 1999 and republished in 2021, has spread rapidly across social media. The relevance of the rumors is reflected in the drastic decline in flight bookings. According to reports from Vietnam The number of bookings from Hong Kong to Japan fell by 50% compared to the previous year, with bookings for the period from late June to early July even falling by 83%.

Official reactions and scientific assessments

Miyagi Governor Yoshihiro Murai has expressed concern about the negative impact of these rumors on tourism. In parallel, the Japanese Meteorological Agency stressed that the exact timing of an earthquake cannot be predicted and warned against the spread of unconfirmed information. An assessment by the Japanese government's earthquake task force predicts an 80% chance of a major earthquake in the Nankai Trench in the next 30 years.
Given this situation, analyst Eric Zhu warned that the rumors could unsettle more travelers, which could also have implications for airlines such as Cathay Pacific, as 20% of their fall seats are reserved for Japan.

Adding to the uncertainty caused by the manga, the Chinese embassy in Tokyo has expressed its own concerns about possible summer earthquakes. On April 14, a warning was issued urging Chinese citizens to take precautions against natural disasters. This warning coincided with a Japanese government report on the threat of a large earthquake in the Nankai Trough.

Impact on tourism

The present information and developments have significant implications for the Japanese tourism sector. Concerns about a possible earthquake have already led some travelers to cancel their plans. In particular, the uncertainty is expected to continue to have an impact beyond the forecast period. Artist Ryo Tatsuki has emphasized that her intention was not to cause panic, but to focus on the importance of preparing for natural disasters.

Following dramatic declines in bookings, Japan's tourism sector may be forced to take measures to regain traveler confidence and stabilize visitor numbers.