Local and global travel businesses have been examining the market for Japan’s outlying islands in an effort to attract Taiwanese tourists who have shied away from trips to the main island of Honshu after the March 11 earthquake off its coast.
Star Cruises (麗星郵輪), the world’s third-largest cruise line, which dominates the Asia--Pacific market, said yesterday that it set up a cruise terminal in Taiwan earlier in the month for its cruise ship SuperStar Aquarius, which has a gross tonnage of 51,309.
The move will help promote travel from Taiwan to Japan’s Okinawa and Yaeyama Islands, tourist destinations that are relatively unaffected by the massive earthquake, said Andy Lew (盧冠群), general manager of the company’s Taiwanese branch.
As both island groups are far from northeastern Honshu — the region hardest-hit by the earthquake and tsunami — Lew said he expects to see more people visit.
“We can build on the success of our Taiwan-Okinawa route during this difficult time,” he said, noting the company has seen a steady 10 percent growth of passengers in the offshore market in the past few years.
Likewise, local travel agencies have launched campaigns to promote travel to Japan’s outlying islands, as they are anticipating a loss of NT$8 billion (US$270.7 million) because of cancellations.
According to the Taipei-based Travel Quality Assurance Association (品保協會), there are more than 100 small and medium-sized tour agents in Taiwan who rely on sales of Japan-bound packages.
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