Travel agent cancels trips to Okinawa as highly infectious disease spreads in area
A measles outbreak in southern Japan has forced a Hong Kong travel agent to cancel several trips it had planned to the area.
Nearly 70 people in the popular tourist destination of Okinawa have contracted the highly infectious disease, local government officials said.
In response, travel agent WWPKG has cancelled the plans of eight tour groups, who were supposed to leave for Japan between April 26 and May 19.
Some 150 travellers have been effected by the move, and all will be offered the opportunity to visit other destinations in Japan, or opt for a refund.
“Due to the escalation of the outbreak, WWPKG contacted travellers who signed up for tour groups to Okinawa in the past week to arrange changing destinations to Kyushu, Osaka and other places, travellers may also choose the full refund,” said WWPKG’s chief executive, Yuen Chun-ning.
The travel agent will keep an eye on the outbreak to decide if tour groups after May 19 should head to the Japanese island, Yeun added.
Three tour groups, led by travel agent EGL Holdings, are already in Okinawa and will continue their journey.
