Quake-hit Kumamoto Prefecture to offer travel discounts
The discounts, which will be offered from Tuesday, will apply to overnight stays in Kumamoto between Oct. 1 and Dec. 25.
Kumamoto Prefecture plans to introduce a travel discount program aimed at boosting tourism following a devastating earthquake that hit the region in July, announced Governor Takashi Kimura on Friday. The initiative will offer reduced rates for overnight stays in Kumamoto between October 1 and December 25, with the goal of encouraging more visitors to the area, as stated by Kimura during a press conference.
The discount program will provide up to a 60% reduction on eligible travel packages, with a maximum value of ¥20,000 ($130) for one-night stays and ¥30,000 for stays of two nights or longer. Accommodation-only products will have a maximum discount of ¥20,000, regardless of the duration of the stay. Travel packages that include transportation costs can receive discounts up to ¥20,000 for one-night stays and ¥30,000 for stays of two nights or more.
For tours that encompass both Kumamoto and other Kyushu prefectures, discounts can go as high as ¥35,000.
As of August 21, approximately 190,000 people had canceled their accommodation bookings in Kumamoto due to the earthquake, resulting in an estimated loss of ¥2.7 billion for the prefecture. Governor Kimura expressed optimism that the discount campaign could attract 300,000 overnight stays, which he believes will contribute significantly to the recovery and reconstruction efforts in the affected areas.
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