Manga Prophecy Rumbles: Japan's Tourism Takes a Hit

Viral rumours stemming from a comic book predict a disaster in Japan, impacting tourism. Despite record visitor numbers earlier in the year, numbers from Hong Kong plummeted. The predictions, linked to a manga, have caused airlines to cancel flights and tourism businesses to offer discounts and insurance.

The tourism boom in Japan has been overshadowed by viral rumours of an impending disaster, as airlines cancel flights from Hong Kong amid a passenger drop.

Despite setting records with 3.9 million visitors in April, arrivals dipped in May due to social media predictions tied to a manga depicting a future catastrophe.

The artist behind the manga has dismissed the rumours as fictional, but the speculation persists, affecting airlines and travelers' plans, particularly from superstition-prone Hong Kong.

(With inputs from agencies.)