Quake fears drive some Hong Kong tourists away from Asian cities: industry leader
Some tour group bookings for Thailand, Japan and Taiwan over Easter holiday have fallen due to concerns over earthquakes, Steve Huen of EGL Tours says
Concerns over earthquakes have contributed to a decline in the number of Hong Kong residents joining tour groups to some popular Asian destinations this Easter, despite prices falling by as much as 15 per cent over last year’s level, one of the city’s largest travel agents has said.
Steve Huen Kwok-chuen, executive director of EGL Tours, also told a radio programme on Sunday that tour group prices were decreasing due to the stronger Hong Kong dollar and cheaper flights as the cost of jet fuel fell and airline passenger capacity increased.
“For a six-day trip to Japan, prices range from about HK$10,000 [US$1,290] to HK$13,000 this year, down from HK$10,000 to HK$16,000 last year, which is quite a marked decline,” he said.
When asked about the effects of recent earthquakes on tour group bookings, Huen said: “If we compare Easter this year with last year, there is a slight single percentage point contraction, which may be due to factors that are uncertain to everyone.
“Everyone will think about [the quakes], but the impact is not too big.”
A 5.6-magnitude quake struck near Meiktila, a small city in central Myanmar, on Sunday morning, although there were no immediate reports of major damage or casualties.
On March 28, the country was rocked by a 7.7-magnitude quake that killed more than 3,500 people and was felt as far away as Bangkok, where a skyscraper under construction near the popular Chatuchak Weekend Market collapsed.