OUTBOUND Malaysian MICE players report that groups scheduled for Japan are switching destinations, as many fear the risk of radiation contamination due to the nuclear crisis there.
So far, Sri Sutra Travel has had a 44-pax incentive group scheduled for six-days/five-nights in Tokyo and Osaka in April change their destination to Dubai. An ICT-based company that booked an incentive trip for 60 pax to Tokyo in July has also put travel on hold as they ponder whether to proceed.
Sri Sutra Travel’s managing director, Syed Razif Al Yahya, said the situation was even pushing some companies to cancel their meetings and incentive trips to all parts of Japan.
Apple Vacations & Conventions’ senior sales manager, Gwen Teng, said the situation was similar on her end, with groups afraid of transiting in Tokyo, as there have been reports of radiation being detected there in the 24 hours.
Teng said all of Apple’s five meetings and incentives groups with plans to visit Japan in March and April had already switched destinations to China, Australia and Europe.
Diners World Travel’s (Malaysia) senior travel manager, Thomas Ng, said only one of its 17 business travellers with trips scheduled to Tokyo this month had proceeded as planned.
