Travel Sectors
The demonstration experiment in Japan shows how ‘Sleep Tourism’ works to improve quality of sleep
‘Sleep Tourism,’ a new travel style to improve quality of sleep, was demonstrated at MAE’s ‘Healthianwood,’ a beauty and health complex in Tateyama, Toyama Prefecture.
Being a Japanese company becomes a brand in itself for hotels operated by Japanese operators in foreign countries
At ‘HOTERES EXPO Tokyo 2026,’ Kazuyoshi Shimojima, Polaris Holdings COO, and Rei Matsuda, Koko Global Hospitality (Thailand) CEO talked about how stay-oriented hotels can win in the future.
Peach Aviation, a Japanese LCC, reimburses accommodation and transportation expenses in significant delays or flight cancellations
Peach Aviation, ANA Group’s LCC, will launch a new reimbursement rule when significant delays or flight cancellations happen.
Jetstar will charge baggage in the overhead bin and not charge a small bag underneath a seat in February 2027
Jetstar will charge baggage in the overhead bin in February 2027. A passenger is required to purchase the "Priority Carry-on" service in advance.
JAL and four railway companies jointly create a wide-range tourism model for foreign visitors to Japan, focusing on pilgrim and spiritual cultures
JAL and JR East, JR West, JR Tokai and JR Shikoku will create a new wide-range tourism model connecting pilgrim and spiritual cultures of Japan for foreign visitors.
Fairmont Hotel will open a luxury resort with authentic onsen in Niseko, Hokkaido in 2028
‘Fairmont Niseko’ will open in Hokkaido in early 2028. This will the second Fairmont brand hotel in Japan, following Tokyo.
Discretion for short-term rental by local government is extended in Japan with new ‘zero-day rule’ and ‘mandatory of digital management’
New directions for short-term rental (STR) was notified to local governments, allowing them to regulate ‘zero-day rule (location restriction)' and ' ICT management.'
JAL and Marriott form a strategic partnership for the loyalty programs to provide members with benefits reciprocally
JAL and Marriott International sighed a strategic partnership for their loyalty programs of Marriott Bonvoy and JAL Mileage Bank (JMB).
APA HOTEL, a Japanese hotel operator, accelerates its business in North America with acquisition of a luxury hotel in LA
APA HOTEL acquired Kimpton La Peer in West Hollywood, Los Angeles, through APA Hotel USA, having a goal to increase available rooms in foreign countries to 10,000 by March 2031.
Spending on local activities in Japan by international travelers accounts for just 5% of the total
‘Tabinka Summit 2026,' an event to discuss how activity operators can earn more money, showed that spending on local activities in Japan by international travelers accounts for just 5% of the total.
High-end private compartment class on Tokaido Shinkansen was unveiled before offered on October 1 2026
JR Tokai unveiled ‘Supreme Class,’ an upper class beyond the current ‘Green Class,’ which will be available on Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen between Tokyo and Hakata.
Narita Airport will be enhanced to 500,000 aircraft movements and a capacity of 75 million passengers a year
Narita is enhancing the airport functions to increase aircraft movements to 500,000 times a year, which are expected to increase capacities to 75 million passengers.
Japan Association of Travel Agents is rebuilding two-way tourism under new leadership, aiming at 20 million or more Japanese outbound travelers
Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA) launched its new executive team in June 2026. They are rebuilding two-way tourism with a goal of 20 million or more Japanese outbound travelers.
The first Hyatt luxury brand ‘Alila’ in Japan will open in Sengokuhara Hakone in 2028
Hyatt luxury brand ‘Alila’ will open in Sengokuhara Hakone in 2028. ‘Alila Sengokuhara Hakone’ will be the first Alila in Japan.
Airbnb Japan prioritizes an increase in Japanese guests to contribute to disperse them to local areas
New Airbnb Japan Representative Director Shintaro Nakagawa talked about the strategy in the Japanese market, prioritizing to raise awareness of the brand in Japan to increase Japanese users.
Japanese travelers in this summer holiday season are estimated to reduce by 5% to 71.2 million - JTB forecast
The number of Japanese travelers in this summer holiday season (July 15 to August 31 2026) is estimated to reduce by 4.6% year on year to 71.2 million, according to JTB.
Awaji Island and Kobe City jointly promote gastronomy tourism with a goal to triple international guests
Awaji Island Tourist Association and Kobe Tourism Bureau in Hyogo Prefecture encourage tourists to stay there longer by offering local tourism experiences.
Spain's national tourism strategy centers on ‘residents,’ balancing their lives with tourism - Spain Talks in Japan
The Spanish Embassy's Tourism Office held the Spain Talks in Tokyo to discuss over-tourism, harmony with local residents' lives, the geographic dispersion of tourism, and the creation of experiential value.
ADR of major hotels in Japan rose by 8.6% to 17,818 yen, and the occupancy rate reached 83.3% in FY2025
According to Tokyo Shoko Research, ADR and the average occupancy rate of 13 major hotel brands reached the highest levels in FY2025 after the pandemic ended.
JTB、the Japan’s leading travel company, to acquire major Asian DMC ‘EXO Travel’ to expand its global business
JTB will acquire stocks of All Wise Holdings, which owns ‘EXO Travel,’ a major DMC in Asia to expand the travel businesses from Europe, US or Australia to Asia as a global leading DMC.
