The tourism liaison conference of Kumamoto Prefecture, organized by five local tourism associations, recently conducted the awareness survey travel with or after COVID-19 to general consumers in Japan in the period between April 27 and 29 2020. The number of valid answers is 3,247. 

On the question about the appropriate time to restart traveling, the most answers are seen in ‘after stay home request by local government is lifted (34%),’ followed by ‘three months after the state of emergency declaration is lifted (12%)’ for traveling to neighbor areas. 

For domestic travel by air or Shinkansen, ‘refraining from traveling for the time being’ reaches 29%, and 23% answers ‘after stay home request by local government is lifted.’

For overseas travel, 46% answers ‘‘refraining from traveling for the time being.’

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Asked about intension to travel, 70% or more are ‘willing to travel.’ Also, more than half are positive to see and check travel information during staying home. 

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The most preferable thing to do in traveling after COVID-19 is ‘staying in onsen or resort hotel,’ followed by ‘experiencing local foods,’ ‘visiting sightseeing places or temples and shrines’ ‘outdoor activities.’ The most reluctant thing to do is ‘visiting theme-parks and amusement parks,’ followed by ‘city tourism’ and ‘indoor activities.’ 

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The survey also illustrates that awareness  of group travel is changing, as 40% of respondents who have joined a group travel before answers ‘rethinking or no longer joining.’ 

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On the question about selection of a destination, more than half say no change from before, but about 30% want to avoid visiting a city area, and about 15% to avoid visiting an area with many infections. 

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About participation in an event, local fireworks or festivals is found are preferred, but outdoor large-scale music festivals or live shows in live houses are not preferred yet. 

The survey also asks about awareness of taking in tourists from outside. As a result, more than 60% are positive in taking in Japanese travelers, while about 60% are negative in taking in foreign travelers. 

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