Tourism Crisis: Tens of Thousands of Hotel Reservations Canceled in Ishikawa

TOKYO, Jan 20 (News On Japan) - Ishikawa, Jan 20 (News On Japan) - The Noto Peninsula earthquake has resulted in approximately 26,000 cancellations at lodging facilities throughout Ishikawa Prefecture, according to a survey by the Prefectural Travel Industry Association.

Responses to the survey were primarily from facilities in the Kaga region of southern Ishikawa, which suffered relatively minor damage from the earthquake. The association believes that the impact on tourism and accommodations is even more severe.

The "Ishikawa Prefecture Travel Industry Association" has been investigating the effects of the earthquake on member lodging facilities within the prefecture, and so far, 23 facilities have responded. As of January 10, the survey revealed that there have been a total of 26,648 cancellations, amounting to over 529 million yen. However, most of the responses have come from areas such as Kanazawa City and Kaga City, where the damage from the earthquake was relatively minor.

In the Noto region, close to the epicenter, including cities like Wajima and Suzu, there has been little response as many lodging facilities themselves have suffered significant damage. The association is concerned that the blow to tourism is even more substantial. Facilities in the hardest-hit areas reported that "the impact on the facilities is devastating, and reopening is not foreseeable in the near future," and some are considering "giving up on resuming business and will proceed with closing the company once things settle down."

The earthquake that struck the Noto region, known for its hot springs and seafood, has clearly affected tourism across Ishikawa Prefecture. The challenge now is to prevent further decline in visitors while focusing on the recovery and reconstruction of the affected areas.

by Brian Dentry

Source: NHK

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