It may be China’s so-called “Golden Week” of national holidays, but many potential travelers are avoiding spending it in Japan as tensions between the two countries increase.
The escalating dispute between Japan and China over a string of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea is hitting the travel trade, as major airlines have started cutting capacity following thousands of tourist cancelations.
Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways say the tussle over the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands has led to a combined total of more than 50,000 tickets being canceled by passengers originally planning to travel in the Japan-China market through November.
Both airlines say they are either suspending routes or using smaller aircraft to match lower passenger demand.
With the airlines stating most of the nixed trips had been for pleasure, rather than business, it’s apparent that Chinese and Japanese tourists are seeking alternatives to visiting each other’s countries.
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