All 15 tour groups traveling in Kyushu, Japan, have been confirmed safe, according to the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong (HKTIC). The major disaster struck southwestern Japan on July 28, 2026, leaving extensive regional damage, displacing hundreds of thousands of residents, and resulting in at least 28 deaths confirmed by the Japanese government as of Thursday morning.
According to initial estimates from the HKTIC, approximately 200 tourists organized across 15 tour groups were visiting the southern Japanese island when the tectonic event hit.
Travel Agency Responses and Itinerary Re-routings
Steve Huen, executive director of EGL Tours, reported that his agency maintained seven active tour groups totaling approximately 140 tourists across Kyushu, all of whom escaped harm. Among them, a single group of 15 travelers was riding a tour bus on a Kumamoto highway when the tremors struck, leaving them temporarily stranded after the roadway sustained structural damage.
Yuen Chun-ning, executive director of travel agency WWPKG, outlined operational adjustments for travelers currently on the ground. Because expressways within Kumamoto face continued closures and local hotels report minor power disruptions, WWPKG tour groups scheduled for overnight stays in Kumamoto on Thursday are being rerouted northward to Fukuoka. Furthermore, scheduled sightseeing stops in Kumamoto for Thursday and Friday have been redirected to alternative regional cultural hubs, including Dazaifu and Itoshima.
On the departure front, Wing On Travel announced the complete cancellation of its upcoming six-day Kyushu tour scheduled to depart on July 31. The agency confirmed that all associated tour fees and municipal taxes will be fully refunded to affected customers.
Official Assistance Status and Regional Infrastructure Impact
Government bodies have confirmed that rescue and recovery operations remain the primary focus throughout Kumamoto Prefecture following the 7.1-magnitude earthquake. Hundreds of thousands of local residents were forced to evacuate damaged districts as emergency crews surveyed cracked expressways, such as those documented in Yatsushiro, and structural stress points at commercial hubs like the Aeon Mall Kumamoto in Kashima.
Despite the widespread disruption to regional transport arteries and hospitality infrastructure, the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong noted that it has not received any direct requests for emergency assistance from stranded parties. The Hong Kong Immigration Department similarly reported zero calls for consular assistance or rescue deployment from residents currently traveling in Japan.
The HKTIC issued a clear advisory regarding ongoing travel adjustments in the affected disaster zone. “Tour groups with itineraries that include Kumamoto may adjust their itineraries as needed depending on the situation,” the council stated, emphasizing that operators will continue to monitor updates issued by Japanese civil protection authorities.
Next Steps and Official Updates
Travelers holding upcoming reservations to Kyushu are advised to maintain close contact with their respective tour operators for real-time schedule modifications. Official updates regarding expressway reopenings, utility restoration, and transport advisories will be published by regional prefectural offices as recovery milestones are reached.
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