The survey on travel trends and changes of lifestyle and mindset in Japan amid the pandemic, conducted by JTB Tourism Research & Consulting, notably illustrates that Japanese female seniors were more willing to travel in the last three months of 2020 than before. Since COVID-19 broke out, those people had been negative about traveling.
In the last three months of 2020, the travel performance rate was 25% overall. Demographically, the top was 20s females with the rate of 36.4%, followed by 20s males (30%), 30s females (26.4%) and 60 years old or older males (25.7%).
The highest growth rate was found in 60 years old or older females with 24.1%, 7.2 higher points than the three month period from July to September. The lowest growth rate was seen in 40s females with 16.9%, almost the same level as 16.1% in the three month period from July to September probably because they were largely influenced by worse job environment, according to JTB Tourism Research & Consulting.
発表資料より：JTB総合研究所
Regarding future travel plan in 2021, the ratio of people who plan to travel in Japan is still 27.6% only. Among 60 years old or older males, however, the ratio was 32.5%, much higher than the previous survey in September.
The ratio of people who plan to travel overseas was 7.5% in 2021 and 11.5% in 2022. While the ratios of younger generations were relatively high, like 18.7% among 20s males, 12.5% among 30s males or 16.3% among 20s females, answers of ‘never traveling overseas in the future’ were more found in 60 years old or older males with 12.9% and 60 years old or older males with 12.2%.
Based on the results, JTB Tourism Research & Consulting points out that the generational change would occur in the overseas travel market if the current travel restrictions extends longer.
発表資料より：JTB総合研究所
Regarding travel amid the state of emergency declaration, the top answer was ‘I had better stop traveling, following the government’s or local governments’ directions’ with 26.8%. The willingness rate of using ‘Go To Travel’ again after the program restarts was 15.7%.
When asking what kind of conditions are needed to restart traveling, the top answer was ‘if I can book a hotel or a ryokan I like’ with 33.1%, followed by ‘if COVID-19 cases reduce’ with 29.8% and ‘if the end of COVID-19 is declared’ with 28.9%.
