Hongkongers’ enthusiasm for visiting Japan is expected to rebound “explosively” in the coming days and months after fears of a “megaquake” predicted in a manga proved unfounded, an industry leader has said.

Steve Huen Kwok-chuen, executive director of EGL Tours, said on Monday that rumours of a July 5 earthquake had earlier caused significant concern among some Hongkongers. Many residents had shelved trips to Japan, leading to a sharp decline in tour group bookings.

He said his agency normally hosted 10 daily tour groups to Japan, each with 25 to 30 members, during the July summer holiday, but on Saturday only three had set off, with about 10 people in each.

Huen said some Hongkongers were particularly affected by the quake prediction.

“Some media outlets in Hong Kong have been hardworking and reported [on the quake fears] daily,” he said. “Even people who initially didn’t believe it ended up being convinced.”

He described the situation as “the darkest hour before dawn”. But with the earthquake rumours dispelled, interest in travel to the country had bounced back “in an explosive surge”.