News
JTB posted the first half-year operating income in the past four years, increasing all travel business segments
JTB achieved the first half-year operating income in the past four years for the first half of FY2023 due to recovery of all travel business, posting 8.7 billion JPY, improving from operating loss of 4.7 billion JPY a year ago because of well-recovery of the travel business.
Total sales of 43 Japanese major travel companies in September 2023 decreased by 27% over 2019
Sales of 43 major travel companies in September 2023 were down 26.9% to 316 billion JPY compared to the same month of 2019. The top was JTB Group with sales of 110 billion JPY (down 23%), followed by NTA with 34 billion JPY (down 16.7%).
Tokyo Ota creates a digital SENTO (public bathhouse) experience tour for foreign travelers arriving in Haneda Airport
Digital SENTO(public bathhouse) experience tour for foreign travelers who arrive in Haneda Airport located in Ota area is developed as a Japan’s unique tourism attraction.
Japan Travel and Tourism Association builds a digital platform to help local regions use tourism data analysis
Japan Travel and Tourism Association has built ‘Japan Travel and Tourism Association Digital Platform’ to help local regions use tourism data analysis for sustainable tourism business, offering a basic function and a paid extension function.
Japan’s outbound travel market continued stagnating with a 44% reduction in October 2023 over 2019
The number of Japanese overseas travelers was down 43.6% to 937,700 in October 2023 compared to the same month of 2019. The reduction rate was unchanged in the recent three months.
International arrivals in Japan were 2.51 million in October 2023, finally exceeding the pre-pandemic level
The number of international visitors in Japan in October 2023 was up 0.8% to 2,516,500 compared to October 2019 (2,496,568), exceeding the 2019 level for the first time since the pandemic happened.
Hoshino Resorts, a Japan’s hotel chain, offers a digital detox plan for young guests, sealing a smartphone in a box
Hoshino Resorts, a Japan’s hotel chain, has started selling an unique stay plan without a smartphone, named ‘No Smartphone Stay.’ In checking in, smartphone is sealed in the box.
A Japanese real estate sharing service provider is preparing for selling new crypto-assets as a money-raising means, offering rights to stay in properties to buyers
NOT A HOTEL, a Japanese real estate sharing service provider, has signed MOU with GMO COINS to prepare for selling new crypto-assets as a money-raising means, trying to build a scheme for everyone to own and use NOT A HOTEL properties all together.
JTB signs an agreement with a major Japanese cruise operator to charter a new ship for 91-days world cruise for South America in 2025
JTB and MOL Cruises signed a partnership agreement for JTB to charter a new MOL small luxury cruise ship ‘MITSUI OCEAN FUJI’ for 91-days world cruise. The world cruise will depart from Yokohama to stop by 19 cities in 14 countries.
Tokyo is the third most powerful city globally, but has weakness in nightlife contents and high-class hotels
The Mori Memorial Foundation Institute for Urban Strategy announced the Global Power City Index (GPCI) 2023. The most powerful city is London, followed by New York, Tokyo, Paris and Singapore.
Accor will open 23 Grand Mercure and Mercure hotels in Japan at the same time on April 1 2024, taking over Daiwa Resort properties
Accor announced that they will open 12 Grand Mercure hotels and 11 Mercure hotels in Japan nationwide at the same time on April 1 2024 and develop ‘#Hanare Tabi (Remote Travel in English)’ project as a new travel style.
Guest nights in Japan by both Japanese and foreigners finally exceeded the pre-pandemic level in September 2023
Guest nights by Japanese travelers and foreigner travelers in September 2023 were respectively up 0.6% to 40.7 million and up 15.4% to 9.5 million compared to the same month of 2019.
182 amusement parks and theme parks in Japan totally turned profitable in 2022 for the first time in the last three years
Sales of 182 amusement park and theme park operators in Japan in FY2022 increased by 48.7% year on year to 760.3 billion JPY in total. The top in terms of sales was Oriental Land, operator of Tokyo Disney Resort, with 410.5 billion JPY.
80% of international travelers to Japan decides in-destination itinerary before departure
81.3% of all respondents decides itineraries in Japan before their departures, regardless of travel days or travel styles. The ratio among FIT is 82.9%, higher than tour (hotel+transportation) travelers.
JAL revises the full-year financial forecast upward due to better recovery of international passenger flights than initially expected
JAL Group resulted in more revenue, EBIT and net profit for the first half of FY2023 than the same period of FY2019 and has revised the full-year financial forecast upward.
ANA decides to pay a dividend for the first time in five years, posting record-high revenue and operating income for the first half of FY2023
ANA Holdings posted record-high operating revenue and operating income for the first half of FY2023 (April 1 to September 30) and has decided to pay a dividend of 30 JPY for the first time in five years.
Five Japanese airlines forms an alliance for regional aviation, working together for safe operation and demand exploitation
Three regional airlines, ANA and JAL established Essential Air Service Alliance or EAS Alliance to maintain flight networks for remote areas and boost travel demand.
Nara Prefecture in Japan promotes ‘Gastronomy Tourism’ with new tours in English
Nara Prefecture strengthens gastronomy tourism for inbound travelers, offering specially-arranged tours focusing on sake or local foods in Nara.
Japan National Tourism Organization points out the biggest challenge in adventure travel in Japan is guide’s skill for storytelling in English
According to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) survey to participants in ATWS 2023, the biggest challenge is ‘English skill of guides.’ JNTO also said that A key to send travelers to local regions is revival of direct flights from East Asia.
Digital Wallet for Osaka Kansai EXPO is in service on November 1, naming e-money as ‘MYAKU-PE！’ and reward point as ‘MYAKU-PO！’
‘EXPO 2025 Digital Wallet’ service started on November 1 2023 to connect the EXPO with wallet users, nicknaming e-money as ‘MYAKU-PE!' and reward point as ‘MYAKU-PO!’
