The economy, swine flu and the small number of people going were all reasons a sister city trip to Japan has been called off, Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin said yesterday.
The first visit since 2005 was to have involved representatives from the tourism, arts, culture and sporting communities.
There was usually one visit during a council's three-year term, and next year would be the 30th anniversary of the sister city relationship between Dunedin and Otaru.
Yesterday, the day he was to have been attending the Ushio Matsuri festival in Otaru, Mr Chin said he had called off the trip.
"They're coming here next year, and we'll have a budget to do something good," he said.
