Chinese cruise ships look to steer clear of Japan amid diplomatic dispute

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By Ju-min Park, Hyunjoo Jin and Heekyong Yang Chinese cruise operators are scrambling to avoid Japanese ports as Beijing and Tokyo engage in a diplomatic dispute, which is expected to spur demand for tourism in South Korea, according to sources and cruise schedules reviewed by Reuters. Tour and port agents said tensions, sparked by recent remarks from Japan's new prime minister, could cause Chinese tourists to be redirected to South Korea from Japan. Earlier this month, Sanae Takaichi told Japanese lawmakers that a Chinese attack on Taiwan threatening Japan's survival could trigger a military response. Adora Magic City, a Chinese cruise ship that travels to South Korea's touristy island of Jeju as well as Japan, has changed its schedule for December to avoid stopping at the Japanese ports of Fukuoka, Sasebo and Nagasaki as planned, according to a notice posted on the government website of South Korea's Jeju province.The cruise ship would instead spend 31 to 57 hours in Jeju, longer than its usual schedule of nine hours, the notice said. An official from Jeju province said the cruise operator requested a change in schedule without providing a reason. "We suspect that's because of China-Japan relations," said the official, who declined to be identified as he was not authorised to speak to the media."It seems like they are drafting a Plan B." Adora Cruises did not respond to a request for comment.Japan has been counting the cost of the diplomatic dispute, with Tokyo-based tour operator East Japan International Travel Service saying this week it had lost 80% of its bookings for the remainder of the year. Lee Yong-gun, CEO of South Korean port agent Eastern Shipping, told Reuters other Chinese cruise lines were also in talks to reroute. "If the China-Japan relationship further deteriorates and China excludes Japan's products, culture and tourism, I expect Korea should benefit from that," Lee said. The operator of the "Dream" cruise ship, which departs from the Chinese city of Tianjin, wanted to avoid Japan and reroute to a South Korean port in Incheon or Busan over the next couple of weeks but there was not enough time to change itineraries, he said, citing a discussion with the ship's operator. Tianjin Orient International Cruise Line, which operates the vessel, did not respond to a request for comment. Details of cruise liners skipping Japan and staying long...

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