Recent seismic activity in Japan, coupled with warnings of a potential major earthquake, has begun to cast a shadow over South Korea’s robust tourism to its island neighbor. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Aug. 12 (Korea Bizwire) – Recent seismic activity in Japan, coupled with warnings of a potential major earthquake, has begun to cast a shadow over South Korea’s robust tourism to its island neighbor.
This unease, combined with the strengthening yen, is leading some in the travel industry to speculate that the boom in Japanese tourism, fueled by a weak yen, may be waning.
On August 8, following a magnitude 7.1 earthquake off the coast of Miyazaki Prefecture in Kyushu, Japan’s Meteorological Agency issued a “Nankai Trough Earthquake Temporary Information” alert.
This warning suggests a 70-80% probability of a major earthquake occurring within the next 30 years along the Nankai Trough, a seismically active zone stretching from Shizuoka Prefecture to eastern Kyushu.
The alert was followed by a magnitude 5.3 quake in Kanagawa Prefecture, west of Tokyo, on August 9, and a magnitude 6.8 tremor off the coast of Hokkaido on August 10, heightening tensions both in Japan and among potential visitors.
These seismic events have prompted some South Korean travelers to reconsider their plans. Online travel forums are buzzing with posts from concerned tourists, with some reporting cancellations despite incurring fees, while others express anxiety about upcoming trips.
The travel industry is maintaining a cautious stance. A representative from a major travel agency stated, “While we’re receiving inquiries about whether itineraries are proceeding as planned, there have been few cancellation requests. We’re closely monitoring the situation, but as airports remain operational and there’s no widespread destruction, we haven’t yet considered canceling trips.”
Adding to the complexity is the recent appreciation of the Japanese yen. The won-yen exchange rate has climbed from around 850 won per 100 yen in early July to 950 won in early August.
This shift could potentially dampen the enthusiasm for Japanese travel that has been driven by the weak yen in recent months.
The impact of these factors on South Korea’s travel patterns to Japan remains to be seen. According to the Korea Tourism Organization, of the 2.22 million South Koreans who traveled abroad in June, 700,000 (31.5%) visited Japan, making it the most popular destination.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
