Hakodate-Taiwan service suspended until the end of this month Impact of spread of infection

Hakodate-Taiwan service suspended until the end of this month Impact of spread of infection March 5 17:35

Due to the spread of the new coronavirus, EVA Air has decided to suspend scheduled flights between Hakodate and Taiwan by the end of this month. All regular flights between Hakodate and Taiwan will be suspended, and the impact has spread to routes outside mainland China.

EVA Air, a Taiwanese airline, operated daily scheduled flights between Hakodate and Taipei, Taiwan.However, the spread of the new coronavirus has reduced the number of passengers and reduced the number of flights since last month. Was.

EVA Air was considering future flights, but has decided to suspend regular flights until the end of this month, as the number of passengers will not stop.

It is not decided about the operation after next month.

In addition, Taiwan's low-cost airline "Tigerair Taiwan", which operates between Hakodate and Taipei five days a week, has also decided to suspend operations until 28th of this month, and all international scheduled flights connecting Hakodate and Taiwan It has been canceled.

According to Hakodate, it is the first time that all scheduled flights have been suspended since the scheduled flights between Hakodate and Taiwan started eight years ago.

On international flights in Hokkaido, the spread of the new coronavirus has already caused a series of suspensions on most flights connecting mainland China, but the impact has spread to routes in other regions.

Significant impact on local economy

The spread of the new coronavirus has greatly reduced the number of Taiwanese tourists visiting Hakodate, which has had a significant impact on the local economy.

Stores selling fruits and processed squid products in the Hakodate morning market are gaining popularity among Taiwanese tourists because they were introduced in a Taiwanese guidebook.

Aside from the store, there is a light truck with the flag of Taiwan on the loading platform, and in the store, about 100 badges with the name of the travel company, etc., worn by tour customers We are focusing on attracting customers such as decorating, and now most of the sales are from tourists from Taiwan.

However, the number of tourists from Taiwan has dropped sharply due to the spread of the new coronavirus, and the machine that makes the popular Saki Squid has not been operating for half a month.

Store sales have decreased by 90% compared to the same period last year, and we are responding by returning employees early and shortening business hours.

"The situation is quite serious. Not only tourists from Taiwan but also domestic tourists are decreasing, and we are considering changing the management style of the store. We want the customers to come back after the spread of the virus has ceased. "