After the news of Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu's death due to flu complications leading to pneumonia in Japan, tours for Vietnamese tourists are still taking place as usual.
According to AP, Japan is facing its biggest flu outbreak in 25 years. According to data collected from 5,000 clinics nationwide, more than 310,000 people were diagnosed with influenza between January 23 and 29, the highest number since records began in 1999, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. In addition, the death of actress Barbie Hsu on February 2 related to influenza has also caused Thailand, Hong Kong recommendation Tourists should consider when coming to Japan at this time.
However, according to initial survey With major travel companies in Vietnam, the number of Vietnamese tourists booking tours to Japan has not decreased or been postponed or canceled.
In January, Vietravel Tourism Company had more than 50 tourist groups going to Japan. During the Lunar New Year alone, the company sent nearly 700 tourists. It is expected that by the end of March, coinciding with cherry blossom season, there will be more than 100 more Vietnamese tourist groups going.
Deputy General Director Huynh Phan Phuong Hoang said that among the thousands of visitors to Japan in January, the company has not encountered any cases of flu. Notably, after the news of the death of Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu, Vietravel has not received any information about Vietnamese tourists postponing or canceling tours due to the flu situation in Japan. "Vietnamese tourists still maintain their demand for travel to Japan," said Ms. Hoang. During the Lunar New Year, the demand for travel to Japan among Vietnamese tourists even increased.
"Vietnamese tourists are still traveling normally," said Hoang Thang, a tour guide specializing in Japan. He just led a group of tourists to Japan and returned to Hanoi this afternoon. During the trip, tourists were not too worried about the epidemic. Everyone exchanged information about the death of actress Barbie Hsu, discussed Japan's advanced healthcare system, and enjoyed the spring trip.
"We have not received any information about customers wanting to postpone or cancel their trips due to the Japanese flu situation," said Nguyen Van Dung, director of Asia Gate Travel, a company that specializes in providing high-end tours to Japan. Pham Anh Vu, deputy general director of Viet Travel Company, also gave similar information. In January, the company sent 12 groups with 360 guests to Japan. During Tet, the company had 8 groups with more than 200 guests. All groups have not recorded any cases of flu. Some guests have mild cough symptoms due to weather changes, such as from hot Ho Chi Minh City to snowy Japan. By the end of March, the company has 9 groups that will continue to depart to see cherry blossoms.
"We have recorded some concerns, but not many, from customers about the flu situation in Japan, but no customers have canceled their tours," Mr. Vu said. The unfortunate incident of actress Barbie Hsu has created some concerns, but has not greatly affected people's travel decisions.
However, companies are still preparing measures to help tourists prevent the flu in Japan. Viet Travel provides medical masks and hand sanitizer for the entire group. Tour guides are experienced and trained to handle medical emergencies. In addition, the company also cooperates with local medical facilities in Japan according to the tour schedule to support guests when necessary. "We also regularly update information from the Japanese government, adjust the schedule flexibly to bring tourists the most enjoyable experience during the trip," said Mr. Vu.
At Vietravel, Ms. Hoang said the company cooperates with reputable service providers, helping tourists feel more secure during their trips.
Japan is one of the favorite destinations of Vietnamese tourists in Asia. In 2024, the number of Vietnamese tourists to Japan reached more than 600,000, the highest in history and belonging to top 10 markets send the largest number of visitors to this country.
Fumi Matsumoto, representative of the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), said that in Japan, flu cases tend to increase in winter, when the weather is dry, and this year is no exception. People's lives are still going on as usual, without any special regulations or recommendations from the government such as limiting going out. "The weather will gradually warm up from now on, and flu cases are expected to decrease," said Fumi.
Although there is currently no need for tourists to limit their travel, JNTO Vietnam representatives still recommend that tourists follow their schedules, avoid crowded places, wear masks, wash their hands, and gargle.
Dang Mai Chi, 30 years old, living in Da Nang, is preparing to go to Japan on February 14 with her boyfriend. She said she heard about Barbie Hsu, also knew that the actress had the flu and then developed pneumonia and passed away, about the seasonal flu epidemic in Japan. "But this is not the reason why I will have to cancel the trip," Chi said.
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