Japanese Travelers
Japanese outbound travelers reached 540,000 from 18 local airports in addition to major airports in February 2023
The number of Japanese overseas travelers were 537,700 in February 2023, approximately 100,000 more travelers than the previous month.
Japan Tourism Agency draws up a plan to boost outbound travel with three actions
Japan Tourism Agency drew up a policy package to recover the outbound travel market, expecting to achieve 20 million travelers, the 2019 level, as soon as possible.
Issued Japanese passports increased in 2022, but valid passport holders decreased
the number of issued Japanese passports in 2022 was up 117.5% to about 1.37 million, but valid passports as of the end of 2022 reduced from 24 million a year ago to 21.7 million.
Travel spending in Japan by Japanese travelers recovered to the 2019 level in Q4 of 2022
The total amount of Japanese travel consumption was just down 0.6% year on year to 5.1 trillion JPY in the 4th quarter of 2022(October to December 2022), compared to the same period of 2019.
More than 90% of Japanese Generation Z who have experienced overseas travels want to travel overseas this year
More than 90% of Japanese Generation Z who have experienced overseas travels say that they want to go overseas within this year, according to Japan Tourism Agency's survey. The most-focused point to choose a destination is ‘security’ with 73%.
Willingness to consume among Japanese consumers is the highest in the last five years, boosted by willingness to travel
The consumption willingness index in February 2023 rises by 1.7 points to 44.6 points, which is the highest in the last five years, particularly boosted by higher willingness to travel.
The Japanese leading travel company forecasts 21 million inbound travelers and 8.4 million outbound travelers in 2023
JTB has forecasted a 8.6% increase in domestic travelers to 266 million, a 189.7% increase in outbound travelers to 8.4 million and a 450.6% increase in inbound travelers to 21 million in 2023.
40% of Japanese domestic travel experiences are aware of 17 SDGs goals, higher than general consumers
JTB Tourism Research & Consulting’s survey on SDGs finds that the awareness rate of 17 SGDs goals among domestic travel experiences in the past three years was 40.8%. The most important action in tourism was ‘preserving sea richness (38.1%)’
China suspends visa issuance to Japanese travelers as payback against tighter border control for travelers from China by the Japanese government
The Chinese Embassy in Japan announced suspension of visa issuance to Japanese travelers on January 11 2023, as payback against tighter border control for travelers from China by the Japanese government.
More than 60% of Japanese Generation Z do not want to drive in Okinawa, and 80% want to use public transportation
62.9% of Generation Z living in Tokyo or Osaka areas answered that they do not want to drive in Okinawa. 83.3% of those want to use public transportation in Okinawa, according to Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau (OCVB)’ survey.
Strong recovery of Japanese overseas travelers was not seen yet with 380,000 in November 2022
The number of Japanese overseas travelers were 379,200 in November 2022, just about 30,000 more travelers than 349,557 in the previous month. Compared to November 2019 (1,642,333 travelers), the result was still down 79.6%.
ANA and JAL remarkably recover international flight bookings in this coming New Year holidays
Both ANA and JAL received 80% more domestic flight bookings and four times more international flight bookings in this coming New Year holiday period. The booking rates of international flights remarkably improved to 77% for both.
Virgin Australia will launch its first Japan service from Cairns in June 2023, expanding code-shares with ANA
Virgin Australia announced launch of its first Japan service between Cairns and Haneda with the Boeing 737-8 on June 28 2023, expanding code-share flights with ANA. They expect that Japanese passengers may be 60 to 70% of the total on average through a year.
Princess Cruise will restart Japan cruises in March 2023, offering 22 courses on 32 departure days
Princes Cruise will restart cruises in Japan in March 2023, offering 22 courses on 32 departure days in the period between March 13 and November 9 2023.
Japanese travelers are estimated at 21 million domestically and 150,000 internationally during this coming New Year holidays - JTB
JTB has forecasted that domestic travelers will increase by 16.7% year on year to 21 million during this coming New Year holidays, which will be 28.2% fewer travelers than 2019, and the average travel expenses will be up 12.1% to 37,000 JPY, which will be 15.6% more than even 2019.
Recovery of Japanese departures overseas was slow with 350,000 only in October 2022
The number of Japanese overseas travelers were 349,600 in October 2022, just about 30,000 more travelers than 319,165 in the previous month.
JAL expects to achieve 45 billion JPY in black for the full year of FY2022, considerably shrinking deficits for the second half
JAL increased operating revenue was up 112.8% year on year to 618.5 billion JPY for the first half of FY2022 and considerably improved net loss from 104.9 billion JPY to 2.1 billion JPY. For the full year, it has still forecasted that net income of 45 billion JPY can be secured.
Web-based CIQ for Japan ‘Visit Japan Web’ integrates health app ‘MySOS’ to make faster immigration possible
Digital Agency of Japan will integrate ‘My SOS,’ a health certificate app, into ‘Visit Japan Web’ on November 1 2022 to make faster immigration possible.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan lowered COVID-19 travel warning worldwide
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan lowered COVID-19 travel warning worldwide to LEVEL 1 (Be careful of traveling) on October 19 2022.
Nationwide travel discount program, a Japanese government’s initiative, was sold out in some regions on the opening day
A nationwide travel discount program began on October 11 2022 to boost domestic travel demand, but Several OTAs stopped selling the qualified products on the opening day because of no more availabilities.