JAPAN. The outbound travel business is expecting its best year-end/New Year season since 2001 as an estimated 648,000 Japanese head abroad between 23 December and 3 January.
Travel Journal International (TJI) Online* said the surge in business is being driven by a +9.1% year-on-year increase in family travel. The Japanese travel business information provider cited a survey conducted by the country’s leading travel group, JTB Corp, between 3 and 13 November.
The phasing of the holidays is a key factor in the boom. “JTB said that consumers, using some holiday time mixed in with the national holidays on 23 December, 1 January and weekends, can enjoy a 12-day travel holiday this season,” TJI commented.
Hawaii reported that family holidays make up seven in every 10 travellers, while eight out of every ten to Guam will be family-based |
The 648,000 overseas travellers will be the third-highest figure in history, behind the record high of 684,000 set in 1996-1997 and 655,000 recorded in the 2000-2001 season.
Travellers were undeterred by the higher price of travel, notably a fuel surcharge which had driven a +5.55% rise in average foreign travel expenditure this season, TJI said.
In destination terms Hawaii and Guam/Saipan are again the standard choices because of their traditional appeal as resort destinations in Japan’s winter season.
That’s good news for Hawaii, which has seen a concerted slump in Japanese arrivals this year. It will draw some 62,000 travellers, up +3.33% year-on-year, for a 9.57% share of the outbound holiday market. Guam and Saipan will attract some 54,000 holiday travellers, up +1.89% for an 8.33% share.
JTB said that family travel has buoyed demand for Hawaii and Guam. “This season, the increase in family travel for Hawaii climbed +22.6% with Europe climbing +13.4%,” said TJI.
The big winner, surprisingly, is Indonesia, mainly Bali. The island will see a +40% year-on-year rise in Japanese holiday arrivals |
JTB said that family travel this season makes up an average 57.5% of all travellers heading abroad. Hawaii reported family holidays making up some seven in every 10 travellers, while eight out of every ten to Guam will be family-based.
Game on for Macao
Charter traffic is also set to grow sharply. Charters to Macao, driven by demand for gaming casinos, are particularly popular, TJI said. In turn this has boosted demand for travel to Hong Kong, up +9.38% to 35,000.
Mainland China numbers also look good, as do those for South Korea (84,000, up +1.20%) and Europe (80,000, ahead +2.56%).
But the big winner, surprisingly, is Indonesia, mainly Bali. The island will see a +40% year-on-year rise in Japanese holiday arrivals to 14,000. A year ago the market was affected badly by an earlier terrorism attack.
Destinations to show a shortfall included the US mainland (44,000, -2.22%), New Zealand (6,500, -7.14%), Canada (6,500, -7.14%) and Thailand (38,000, down -2.56%).
*EDITOR’S NOTE The Moodie Report works closely with TJI Online, which is the pre-eminent provider of information on the Japanese travel industry. To subscribe, please click here. It comes with our highest recommendation.
MORE STORIES ON JAPANESE TRAVEL
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