ISLAMABAD, April 17: Japan has joined the United States and the United Kingdom in issuing fresh negative travel advisory to its investors and tourists willing to visit Pakistan because of the worsening security situation in the country.

Informed sources told Dawn on Tuesday that two incidents of suicide bombings in January this year had forced the Japanese government to start issuing negative travel advisory about Pakistan.

The Japanese have been advised not to visit Pakistan or delay their travel schedule till there was some improvement in the security situation. They have been further advised that if it was very important then increased security be sought from the Pakistan government to visit certain parts of the country.

"This new negative travel advisory issued by Japan has reduced tourism business to half and this is not good for the country," an informed source said.

He said prominent tour operators had started canceling reservations made by the Japanese for April. Most of the Japanese tourists visit Moenjodaro and Northern Areas of the country.

"Normally March and April are the months when there is a regular flow of tourists, particularly from Japan and other far eastern countries. But in most cases we have been advised by our Japanese clients to cancel their reservations," a prominent tour operator said.—Correspondent