社会｜南海フェリー、和歌山-徳島撤退へ / Society | Nankai Ferry to withdraw from the Wakayama-Tokushima route.

Summary

Nankai Electric Railway has announced that its subsidiary, Nankai Ferry, will withdraw from the ferry service operating between Wakayama and Tokushima by the end of March 2028.

Due to the impact of COVID-19, the management has become increasingly difficult, and the recent surge in fuel prices is also seen as a contributing factor to the decision to withdraw. The governor of Wakayama Prefecture has stated that efforts will be made to minimize the impact of this withdrawal. There is also a possibility that the withdrawal date may be moved up.

Dialogue

This dialogue is fictional and based on the article.

Chako: Hey Log, did you know that Nankai Ferry is withdrawing from the route between Wakayama and Tokushima?
Log: Yeah, I heard about that. They say it’s due to the impact of COVID-19 and rising fuel costs.
Chako: That’s really tough! Why did it have such a big impact?
Navi: It’s believed that the decrease in travel demand due to COVID-19 put pressure on their operations. Additionally, the rising fuel costs hit them even harder.
Log: It seems like the withdrawal might happen sooner, so we need to keep an eye on any developments.

Admin’s Note

The withdrawal of Nankai Ferry could have a significant impact on local transportation. This is especially concerning given the tourism industry has been hit hard by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and rising fuel costs reflect the challenging economic situation overall. From the comments made by the governor of Wakayama Prefecture, it’s clear that the region is being called to address this issue. I am keen to see what measures will be implemented moving forward.