Thousands of Hotel Bookings Canceled in Japan Due to Earthquake Concerns

Concern over the possibility of a massive earthquake in Japan has led to the cancellation of thousands of hotel bookings in areas deemed at high risk, significantly impacting tourism during this crucial time of year, according to industry representatives on Monday. Sector representative Susumo Nishitani stated that "cancellations between August 9 and 18 have resulted in a loss estimated at around 140 million yen (approximately 868,500 euros)." Nishitani confirmed that "normally, all hotels and inns in our city are fully booked at this time of year." The warning of a potential massive earthquake coincides with an annual holiday when many Japanese people visit their families. In the first warning of its kind, the meteorological agency predicted a potential massive earthquake following a 7.1 magnitude tremor in southern Japan on Thursday that left 15 people injured. The Japan Meteorological Agency noted that "the likelihood of a strong earthquake occurring is higher than usual, but this does not mean that an earthquake is guaranteed to happen."