Strange Reason Flights to This Popular Country Are Being Canceled
Reuters reported that airlines are suspending flights, tours are being slashed in half, and travelers across Asia are rethinking their vacations, all because of a viral rumor predicting a catastrophic earthquake on July 5, 2025.
The prediction didn't come from scientists. It came from the pages of a manga titled The Future I Saw by Ryo Tatsuki, first published in 1999.
The comic gained a second life online after readers connected its reference to a 2011 disaster with recent claims that a new catastrophe would strike this summer. Panic quickly spread through social media, especially in Hong Kong, prompting widespread concern and real-world fallout.
Hong Kong-based Greater Bay Airlines announced this week it would suspend service to Tokushima, Japan, citing weak demand. The airline isn't alone. Tour agencies like EGL Tours reported that bookings to Japan were cut in half, despite offering steep discounts and earthquake insurance to offset fears.
'The rumors have had a significant impact,' said Steve Huen, executive director at EGL Tours.
Japan had recorded an all-time monthly high of 3.9 million international visitors in April. But in May, arrivals from Hong Kong dropped 11% compared to the previous year.
Even individual travelers are second-guessing their plans. One visitor from Hong Kong told Reuters, 'If possible, I might delay my trip and go after September.'
Japan sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, where earthquakes are common, but experts say there's no scientific basis for the manga's claims.
'None of the predictions I've experienced in my scientific career have come close at all,' said University of Tokyo seismologist Robert Geller.
Even the manga's author issued a statement saying she is not a prophet.
Still, the damage has been done. While many travelers like Seattle's Serena Peng continue their trips, others are holding back. Airlines and tour operators are watching closely to see whether fear fades or lingers long enough to reshape Japan's tourism rebound.Strange Reason Flights to This Popular Country Are Being Canceled first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 5, 2025
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Yahoo
27 minutes ago
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Donald Trump orders entry fee, DEI changes at national parks. How it affects Michigan
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Forbes
2 hours ago
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An Archaeological Expert's Top 5 Lesser-Known Destinations In Turkey
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Peter Sommer One highlight is the temple of Athena bearing an impressive dedicatory inscription from Augustus, first of the Roman emperors. In the almost perfectly preserved theater, you can take a seat in one of the magnificently carved VIP thrones swathed with icons of Dionysius. After the cultural riches, Sommer suggests taking a short drive west to meet the Mediterranean at the hamlet of Karine, where you can eat at one of the rustic fish restaurants and paddle in the sea. Cruise Into The Ancient Harbor Of Knidos Knidos, on Turkey's turquoise coast, is one of the few places where you can cruise into an ancient city's harbor, drop anchor and tie up in the very same place ancients did well over 2,000 years ago. As you sail in on a traditional wooden gulet, the whole Greek-Roman city surrounds you with tombs, temples, colonnades, and theaters. 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Forbes
2 hours ago
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Overtourism: Why Does Spain Face More Tourism Backlash Than France?
Provence—Why is it that France is the most visited country in the world, but has minimal backlash against overtourism? getty Tourism is booming in Europe. The George Washington University revealed that in 2024, 747 million travelers visited Europe, more than the population of Europe itself, and this inevitably puts a "strain on local infrastructure, environment, and communities." France and Spain receive the most. Yet, despite welcoming a similar number of visitors, Spain has seen far more local opposition to tourism than France. From protests in Barcelona to banners in Ibiza, Spanish locals are voicing their frustrations. Meanwhile, France, known for its frequent demonstrations against many things, has remained relatively quiet. Why? France topped the list again in 2024 as the most-visited country in the world, with a record 100 million travelers passing through its borders, resulting in a 12% year-on-year increase in tourist earnings. Furthermore, the latest data from the World Travel and Tourism Council suggests that France is on track to surpass its records in 2025. Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: "France continues to set the pace for Travel & Tourism worldwide. After a historic 2024, the sector is expected to maintain its growth into 2025 and beyond." Much of this increase can be attributed to the success of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in summer 2024, which showcased France as a backdrop to every race. The WTTC predicts that the tourism sector will employ one in ten people in France in 2025. Spain was only six million people short of this figure, and still reached 94 million travelers and a 10% year-on-year increase in takings. So, Why Are Spanish Locals Protesting, And Not the French? So, why are Spanish locals more vociferous in their opposition to increased tourism? At the same time, France, notwithstanding a recent strike at the Louvre against unmanageable crowds, has seen relatively little protests. And this is in a country that is known for its frequent demonstrations. Throughout 2024, Spanish locals ran coordinated protests against tourists in cities such as Barcelona and Madrid, as well as the bustling Canary Islands. In mid-June 2025, thousands of people took to the streets across Madrid and Barcelona to protest, shouting "Your holidays, my misery" and holding up banners that read "Mass tourism kills the city" and "Their greed brings us ruin." Protesters also took part across the country, in locations such as Ibiza, Málaga, Palma de Mallorca, San Sebastián, and Granada. France Has A Very Different Tourist Set-Up From Spain There are several reasons, however, that might explain why France has seen comparatively little local resistance to tourism. Notably, a significant portion of France's tourism is domestic. French residents contribute between 50% and 70% of the country's tourism revenue, commonly spending their holidays traveling across their own country. Helped by the fact that France has access to the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea and mountain ranges in the Alps and the Pyrenees. The rest of France's visitors arrive predominantly from Belgium, Britain, Germany, Switzerland, and the U.S. The number of Asian visitors remains significantly below pre-pandemic levels, with Chinese visitors still 60% down from their pre-pandemic figures. Statistics sometimes inflate international tourist numbers because France serves as a significant transit hub between northern and southern Europe. The statistics also show that tourists are spending more when they visit Spain, prompting French Tourism Minister Nathalie Delattre to state in early 2025 that one of France's tourism objectives is to encourage visitors to spend more and stay longer. French visitors spent around $74 billion in 2024 (€71 billion), whereas tourists to Spain spent $148 billion (€126 billion). More extended stays might make locals more hostile? France and Spain have both been strict about clamping down on Airbnb and other short-term rentals, but geography also plays a part. They are around the same size in terms of land; France is only 9% larger. In terms of population, France had approximately 69 million residents and Spain had just over 46 million in 2021. However, there are large swathes of Spain that lie uninhabited because they are simply less hospitable to residents than other parts of Spain, and this puts an undeniable pressure on resources in cities and along the coast. While France has many of its residents in the Ile-de-France region (around Paris), it also has more cities distributed across the center of the country, such as Lyon, Toulouse, and Strasbourg. Due to its geography and history, might it also have a more diverse tourist base? They visit Paris, yes, but also different regions for the Champagne, the castles in the Loire, the skiing in the Alps, and they head to Provence and the Mediterranean. So, while the bulk of tourists visit the same sites, such as Paris, Étretat, and Mont Saint-Michel, perhaps it's less of an issue overall? MORE FROM FORBES Forbes The Five Safest Countries In The World, Per 2025 Global Peace Index By Alex Ledsom Forbes What It Means To Be Wealthy In Brazil By Alex Ledsom Forbes Portugal Golden Visa: Government Plans To Enhance Incentives By Alex Ledsom
