Japan quake hits Taiwan tourism

TAIPEI: Taiwan expects to lose millions of dollars in tourism revenue as Japanese visitors cancel trips to the island following

last week's deadly earthquake, officials said Wednesday.

Taiwan's Tourism Bureau estimated a 20 percent decline in Japanese visitors over the coming three months, representing more than Tw$1 billion ($33 million) in lost tourism income, said spokesman Wayne Liu.

Last year 1.08 million Japanese visited Taiwan, making the country the Second largest source of tourists after China, he said.

Meanwhile, about half of Taiwanese tour groups have cancelled trips to Japan scheduled for this month after the Foreign Ministry issued "red" travel alerts against many parts of the country due to radiation concerns.

Taiwan's EVA Airways cancelled 14 flights scheduled to leave for Tokyo before the end of March and another five to Sapporo, citing falling demand, as well as calling off all flights to Sendai until June 30.

Tourism shares had fallen 1.35 percent around noon on the Taipei bourse although the weighted index rose 1.01 percent to 8318.12.

Japan, like most countries in the world, officially recognises Beijing over Taipei but maintains cordial ties with the island.