InsideJapan reports few cancellations
Japanese specialist InsideJapan is reporting only a handful of cancellations due to the earthquake, tsunami and radiation scares in the country.
Spokesman for the operator, James Mundy, said most of its customers are in unaffected areas and plan to return to Tokyo for departure from Narita airport.
“If the situation worsens with regards to the plant in Fukushima or the FCO advise states that British nationals must leave Tokyo, then we will re-route customers to Osaka’s Kansai Airport,” he told TravelMole.
He said staff on the ground in Tokyo had reported there is not much difference in the capital apart from a few barer shelves in shops and the odd scheduled power outage.
“Although concerned people are not panicking, the situation is calm and InsideJapan are trying to keep a balanced view and a constant eye on the situation,” he added.
“We are concerned about the situation and are ready to act and re-route our customers if required or if requested. The majority of our customers continue the trips within Japan and at this moment and all are hundreds of miles south of Fukushima.”
But he said many customers due to travel to Japan before the end of March are taking up the offer of rebooking.
Customers are able to rebook their trip to Japan any time from May over a 13-month period.
“A handful are cancelling outright with the uncertain situation and a number are re-routing to Osaka’s Kansai Airport and continuing their trip in the unaffected regions at the moment,” said Mundy.
“One of our main concerns, along with the needs of our customers, is that the west is focusing on the Fukushima situation which is not affecting anyone out of the immediate area at the moment.
“Focus is being drawn away from the thousands of people in the Tohoku region which are currently suffering in the aftermath of the tsunami and earthquake. People need our help.”
InsideJapan has set up a Tsunami Relief Fund in aid of a Japanese charity called Civic Force which is heavily involved in the relief effort.
If you would like to donate, go to
http://www.justgiving.com/InsideJapan.
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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