Kansai Airport Shutdown Takes Toll on Tourism

September 7, 2018

Osaka- The closure of Kansai International Airport in Osaka Prefecture caused by damage from a recent powerful typhoon has taken a toll on tourism in the Kansai western Japan region, while its operator is moving to normalize its operations.

Some domestic flight services resumed at the airport on an artificial island in Osaka Bay on Friday. The operator said the same day that it is making efforts to resume some international flights on Saturday.

The airport was closed partly because its runways were flooded due to Typhoon Jebi, which struck Japan on Tuesday.

A foreign-affiliated hotel in Naniwa Ward in the city of Osaka saw a flurry of cancellations of reservations from abroad following the typhoon. Most of the reservations were from China and other parts of Asia.

A popular crab restaurant in a downtown district in the prefectural capital is also concerned about the impact from the disruption of flight services at the airport. Foreigners account for some 80 pct of its guests.

After the typhoon, over half of guests with reservations did not show up at the restaurant. A few cancellations have been made for Friday and later.

The airport closure has also prevented some foreign visitors from returning home.

A small budget hotel in Nishinari Ward in the city of Osaka was swamped by cancellations of reservations and, at the same time, sudden requests by guests for extended stays.

The typhoon forced many foreign guests to change their itineraries, and the hotel is helping some of them arrange trips to areas other than Kansai.

A hotel in Naniwa Ward received a reservation cancellation from a large group and requests for extended stays.

"We'll help our guests enjoy their extended stays in Japan as much as we can," an official of the hotel said.

At a press conference on Friday, transport and tourism minister Keiichi Ishii said that his ministry is making arrangements for Osaka International Airport, which straddles Osaka and Hyogo prefectures, and Kobe Airport in Hyogo to handle more domestic and international flights for the Kansai airport until it restarts full operations. Jiji Press