Travel Sectors

World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) released ‘Future of the Travel & Tourism Workforce." Japan is most severely affected, with a labor supply shortfall of 29% compared to demand levels in 2035.

JTB and Airbnb Japan have launched a local revitalization project named ‘Mirai Nigiwai Kobo’ in Japanese to solve a variety of issues in local areas and create new sustainable values.

Tourism EXPO Japan 2025 with a theme of ‘Travel for Discovery and New Encounters’ opened at Aichi Sky Expo in Aichi Prefecture on September 25. At the opening ceremony, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba sent a video message: “Tourism is a core industry in the regions.

‘JTB BÓKUN,’ an activity booking management system, has launched a new system linkage with ‘OMUSUBI,’ a SEEC’s booking management system to manage bookings from multiple OTAs.

Prince Hotels Worldwide (SPW) will acquire all stocks of Seattle-based lifestyle hotel brand Ace Group International LLC (AGI) at up to $90 million. SPW is going to accelerate its global business development strategy.

‘Tourism EXPO Japan 2025 Aichi/Central Japan (TEJ2025)’ with a theme of ‘Travel for Discovery and New Encounters’ will open at Aichi Sky Expo for four days from September 25 2025.

Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) held GSTC 2025 international conference in Fiji. Randy Durband, GSTC CEO, talked about the current challenges against sustainable tourism and a roadmap to solve them.

LOTTE Holdings, a Japan-Korea conglomerate, launched ‘LOTTE HOTEL JAPAN’ in order to expand the hotel business in Japan to 4,500 rooms of 20 hotels in the next decade.

JTB launched a new inbound travel strategy ‘Inbound VISION 2030' with goals to increase transactions by 2.7 times and gross profit by 2.9 times by 2030 compared to 2025.

JTB has reached an agreement with the world-leading BtoB tourism media ‘Northstar Travel Group (NTG) to acquire all stocks of NTG, placing Travel Weekly, Phocuswright or Business Travel News under the umbrella.

Activity booking platform Klook and Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) launched a Muslim-friendly campaign ‘Jelajah Hong Kong, proposing proposes Muslim-friendly tourist spots, activities, hotels, halal foods and worships.

OMO Hotel, a Hoshino Resort brand, expanded local-based nightlife event ‘Local Rhythm Night' to 11 hotels nationwide in Japan. It is an event that guests enjoy original cultures in a destination.

Hawaiian Airlines will suspend three Honolulu-Fukuoka flights weekly on November 19 2025. CEO Joe Sprague said, “Market challenges have persisted."

sales of 44 major travel companies in June 2025 were up 5.9% year on year to 318 billion yen in total, including 112.1 billion yen for overseas travel (up 8.2%).

Mercure, an Accor brand, and Tokyu Stay, a Tokyu Resorts & Stay brand, will open double-brand hotel ‘Tokyu Stay Mercure Hiroshima’ in May 2026.

Airbnb Partners and Daiwa House are developing the next generation apartment ‘Sumu powered by Airbnb Partners (Sumu)’ in Taito, Tokyo, for which CCC provides indoor contents.

JTB and Japan Art Council Japan Cultural Expo 2.0 has started selling digital ticket packaging admissions of 30 Japan Cultural Expo 2.0-related facilities nationwide in Japan.

The Tokyo Shoko Research survey finds that unit price of 15 budget city hotel brands of 13 listed companies kept rising in March 2025. The highest growth was seen in ‘Tokyu Stay’ at 20.4%.

JTB has started selling a dialog-based travel program ‘Kokotori' for travelers to take back mental energy through dialogs with travel professionals. Psychological effects by travel can be quantified.

Nathalie Delattre, Minister Delegate for Tourism of France talked about ‘sustainability,’ ‘inclusivity’ and ‘innovation’ as key drivers for the further growth, when she visited Japan to attend France National Day of Osaka Kansai EXPO.