Chinese cruise to Okinawa unaffected by controversy over Senkaku Islands

Chinese cruise to Okinawa unaffected by controversy over Senkaku Islands

Amid the controversy over the Senkaku Islands, on October 10 a cruise ship from Shanghai called the Legend of the Seas docked at Naha Port.


October 12, 2012 Ryukyu Shimpo

The ongoing territorial dispute over the Senkaku Islands or Diaoyutais, has caused an increase in cancellations of Chinese visitors to Japan. On October 10, the Legend of the Seas, a cruise ship from Shanghai, docked at Naha Port before departing for Amoy later the same day.

However, according to the Naha Port Authority, there were 1042 passengers on board which was not that different from the 1197 people who participated in the same cruise last year. A staff member of the port authority said that it seems as though the territory dispute has not affected this cruise. In reaction to Japan’s nationalization of the Senkaku Islands, direct flights from China to Okinawa have been suspended, new flights have been postponed, and many Chinese tourists have canceled trips to Okinawa. Private sector research had suggested that this cruise ship might not visit Okinawa and that about 2000 people would cancel, but in the end the cruise went ahead as scheduled.

(English translation by T&CT, Lima Tokumori and Mark Ealey)

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