円高で北海道ニセコに危機感 外国人にキャンセルの動き

http://www.47news.jp/CN/200810/CN2008102701000175.html [quote]オーストラリアを中心に外国人スキー客が急増している北海道ニセコエリア。中心地の倶知安町では、今シーズンも２万人以上の外国人客を見込んでいたが、円高による「滞在費用の増加」を理由に旅行をキャンセルする動きが始まっている。 「状況が変われば客が戻ると信じている」。同町の大型ホテルの男性社長は願望を込めて話す。このホテルでは、冬の宿泊の約半分を外国人スキー客が占め、今シーズンも延べ１０００泊以上の予約が入っていたが、既に約１５％がキャンセルしてきたという。 建設ラッシュのコンドミニアムも客の減少を懸念し、オーナーは宿泊料の割引などを検討している。地元の観光関連団体で作るニセコ倶知安リゾート協議会は「政府は実効性のある円高対策を急いでほしい」と話す。[/quote] The Niseko area is known recently for the sudden increase in the number of foreign skiiers, in particular Australians. Kutchan, which lies in the heart of the area, had forecast over 20,000 visitors this season, but there are a growing number of cancellations that can be attributed to the increasing price of the yen. The president of a large hotel in Kutchan mentions that "I strongly believe that if the conditions change the guests will come." About half of this hotel's winter guests are foreign, and the hotel had already booked more than a thousand nights with foreign guests, but already about 15% of these have been cancelled. Condominiums are also seeing that the number of reservations is much smaller than projected, and owners are considering discounts and such. Kutchan's sightseeing group stated that they want to see the government intervene to halt the appreciation of the yen as soon as possible. http://www.47news.jp/CN/200810/CN2008102701000175.html