Travel Sectors

Bankruptcies of travel firms (debt of 10 million JPY or more) were up 11.7% year on year to 19, out of which 17 were affected by COVID-19, according to Tokyo Shoko Research.

According to Tokyo Shoko Research, 49 lodging companies (debt of more than 10 million JPY) have bankrupted for the first seven months of 2021. In July only, six lodging companies were bankrupted.

Jungo Kikuma, new Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA) Chairman, talked about what the travel industry needs for restart of traveling, including vaccination passport, and new travel styles after COVID-19.

JTB has raised 30 billion JPY in total through the third-party allotment to its main banks and others to develop a digital platform for improvement of customer journeys, more attractive tourism contents in local regions and a B to B digital platform.

HIS Holdings opened ‘Henn na Hotel Seoul Myeongdong,’ the first Henn na Hotel brand in a foreign country, on August 1 2021, available an exclusive app, a guest can check in anywhere outside the hotel.

JAL Group reduced net loss to 57.9 billion JPY for the first quarter of FY2021 (April to June 2021) from 93.7 billion JPY a year ago, as it succeeded in reducing costs and increasing international cargo revenue.

JTB has begun selling ‘Eight-days cruise in western Japan with Silver Muse’ departing on October 9 2021 for vaccinated travelers only. JTB charters the ship as a domestic cruise.

JAL demonstrates ‘Flight Subscription Service’ with Kabuk Style, a start-up providing a subscription-based accommodation service ‘HafH,' offering a package of three return flights and three nights at fixed 36,000 JPY.

Japan Tourism Agency has decided to extend a subsidy support for local tourism-boosting programs to December 31 2021 from previously October 31 2021, following requests from prefectures.

ANA Holdings successfully reduced net loss to 51.1 billion JPY for the Q1 of FY2021 (April to June 2021) from 106.8 billion JPY a year ago. Operating revenue was up 63.6% year on year to 198.9 billion JPY, propped by an increase in international cargo revenue from 25.4 billion JPY to 66 billion JPY.

ZIP AIR Tokyo, a JAL subsidiary LCC, restarted a Narita-Honolulu flight a week and will increase the frequency to two flights a week in October, and also will launch Narita-Singapore service in September.

Tourism EXPO Japan 2021 in Osaka will be postponed to autumn 2023 due to the uncertain situation, though it is scheduled to be take place from November 25 to 28 this year.

Completing system linkage between JTB BOKUN, a local activity booking and payment platform, and aiPass, a smart check-in OS provided by CUICIN, JTB gives travelers easier booking of local activity on smart phone.

KNT-CT and NTA provide travel planning and sharing app 'Holiday' users with professional consultations on the platform, expecting to strengthen touch points with young generations.

Sales of 46 major travel companies increased by 284.1% year on year to 41.5 billion JPY in total in May 2021, but the result was still 90.2% lower than May 2019. Sales in domestic travel were down 84.9% over two years ago.

Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA) is asking the government to draw up a roadmap for restart of outbound travels, expecting that the outbound travel market will partially restore in the fourth quarter of FY2021.

JAL is developing its LCC strategy in earnest, establishing LCC networks based in Narita Airport with a consolidated subsidiary SPRING JAPN, additionally investing Jetstar Japan and a 100% subsidiary ZIP AIR.

Membership hotels Tokyu Harvest Club places SmartPlates in guest rooms to enables a hotel to get hotel or neighboring information on its own smart phone through Harvest Smart Guide.

The number of COVID-19 cases was just 30 out of 710,000 participants in total performed by JTB, NTA, KNT and Tobu Top Tours in the period between March and December 2020.

Club Tourism has started a campaign for domestic tours at 2,500 JPY or higher a person departing from August 1 to December 20 2021. targeting 65 years old or older travelers, as vaccination to aged persons is accelerating.