JAPAN. A new survey of leading Japanese travel firms points to an encouraging September surge in outbound travel, Travel Journal International (TJI) Online* reported today.
Conducted in early July, the survey polled Nippon Travel Agency, Kinki Nippon Tourist, JTB Corp, Hankyu Express International, Jalpak, ANA Sales and H.I.S. Sales of these companies make up some 40% of total sales in Japan, TJI said.
The findings point to a marked shift in travel from August to September this year.
The appeal of the “˜Silver Week’ period heavily promoted by travel agencies this year has given consumers more incentive to travel in September. Prices of package tours and air fares are lower than during the peak summer month of August.
September currently shows a +50.9% surge in bookings through early July, with more last-minute demand expected, TJI said.
All major destinations will post increases, led by China’s +267.7% rise, followed by South Korea (+112.5%) and Guam-Saipan (+85.5%).
Hawaii so far has registered a +51.5% rise in bookings – the first increase since April 2009’s +14.8% jump.
Reservations to the US and Canada will rise +4.5% year-on-year, the first increase since March 2006. “The combination of Silver Week, the elimination of the fuel surcharge and the strong Yen against currencies in North America has contributed to the increase,” said TJI.
The Thailand market, which has been soft in recent months due to the country’s political upheaval, has generated an encouraging +9.1% rise in bookings in September.
*Editor’s note: The Moodie Report works closely with TJI Online, the largest English-language travel trade news source in Japan. Week in, week out, it provides timely and sharp analysis of the all-important Japanese travel market – international and domestic. To subscribe please visit https://tji.tjnet.co.jp. It comes with our highest recommendation.
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