Chinese cruise companies are scrambling to avoid Japanese ports amid the diplomatic row between Beijing and Tokyo, which is expected to boost tourism demand in South Korea, according to sources and cruise itineraries.
Tourism and port agents say the tensions, sparked by the new Japanese prime minister’s recent statements, could redirect Chinese tourists from Japan to South Korea. Earlier this month, Sanae Takaichi told Japanese lawmakers that a Chinese attack on Taiwan that threatens Japan’s survival could trigger a military response.
The Adora Magic City, a Chinese cruise ship traveling to the South Korean tourist island of Jeju and Japan, modified its December itinerary to avoid planned stops in the Japanese ports of Fukuoka, Sasebo and Nagasaki, according to a statement published on the website of the government of the South Korean province of Jeju.
The cruise will spend between 31 and 57 hours in Jeju, longer than the usual nine hours.
An official from Jeju Province stated that the cruise company requested an itinerary change without giving any reason.
“We suspect it is due to relations between China and Japan,” said the official, who preferred not to be identified because he was not authorized to speak to the media. “It seems like they are preparing a plan B.”
Japan has been suffering the consequences of the diplomatic dispute. The Tokyo-based travel agency East Japan International Travel Service announced this week that it had lost 80% of its reservations for the remainder of the year.
Lee Yong-gun, chief executive of South Korean port agency Eastern Shipping, said other Chinese cruise companies were also in talks to modify their routes.
“If China-Japan relations deteriorate further and China excludes Japanese products, culture and tourism, I predict Korea will benefit from it,” Lee said.
The operator of the “Dream” cruise ship, departing from the Chinese city of Tianjin, wanted to avoid Japan and change its route to a South Korean port in Incheon or Busan in the coming weeks, but there was not enough time to modify the itineraries, he said after a conversation with the shipping company.
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Chinese travelers swap Japan for South Korea as a tourist destination
South Korea established itself as the main destination for Chinese travelers in terms of the volume of international plane tickets booked during the weekend of November 15 and 16, indicate data from the online travel agency Qunar.
Numerous Chinese airlines offered refunds on flights to Japan, a move expected to boost air travel to South Korea.
A Jeju Air executive said the South Korean low-cost airline expects an increase in Chinese tourism, although there has been no immediate impact yet.
On Wednesday, the CEO of a South Korean travel agency specializing in Chinese travelers said he had received an inquiry from a client asking whether an event, originally planned for Japan early next year, could be moved to South Korea.
“South Korea will clearly benefit from the dispute,” he declared. “But for now we are waiting,” he added, requesting anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
In 2013, South Korea experienced a more than 50% increase in the number of Chinese tourists received due to a territorial dispute between Beijing and Tokyo over some islands.
While Beijing’s recommendation not to travel to Japan affected the country’s tourism sector stocks, it also caused a strong rally in the shares of South Korean companies in the tourism sector this week.
Lotte Tour Development, which operates a hotel and casino on Jeju Island, rose more than 20%; the Yellow Balloon Tour travel agency, 24%. Department store chain Shinsegae rose 6% on hopes that Chinese travelers will opt for South Korea.
Some in the tourism sector commented that it could be time before an increase in the number of Chinese tourists is seen in South Korea.
“The diplomatic dispute happened just a few days ago, so it may take time to see an increase in Chinese tourist arrivals to Korea, but we hope it will happen,” said Kim Seol-yeong, a representative of Huaqing Group, a Jeju-based tour operator that serves Chinese cruise passengers.
Luna Wang, a 34-year-old woman from Hangzhou, China, said she had been thinking about traveling to Japan this year, but might now opt for South Korea.
“Now it seems that Japan is not safe for the Chinese… I guess the only good option is to go to Korea,” he said. The founder of Chinese company Moment Travel, based in Chengdu, pointed to a drastic change in perception about traveling to Japan.
“Whoever goes is now thought to be a traitor,” declared founder Su Shu.
With information from Reuters
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