TokyoTomo Travel Guide

Travel revenue for January at Kinki Nippon Tourist (KNT) dropped 9.3 percent from last year to 21,107 million yen, of which overseas travel was 8,169 million yen, down 10.2 percent, and domestic travel was 12,301 million yen, down 10.3 percent. In overseas travel, group tours dipped 13.2 percent to 1,143 million yen as ordinary groups were down 26.2 percent to 792 million yen while student groups were up 44.3 percent to 350 million yen. The extraordinary growth in student groups is partly due to reinstatement of the school excursions once postponed on account of the H1N1 flu epidemic. Package tours plunged 20.2 percent to 4,005 million yen as Holiday went down by 19.9 percent to 4,005 million yen. Overseas individual travel rose 9.2 percent to 3,020 million yen because international air ticket sales were upbeat.

Domestic group tours showed a growth of 6.1 percent with sales of 3,786 million yen as student groups climbed 12.6 percent to 2,684 million yen although ordinary groups sank 7.0 percent to 1,102 million yen. Domestic package tours fell 17.2 percent to 5,285 million yen with Mate down 17.1 percent to 5,283 million yen and other package tours down 68.7 percent to 2.4 million yen. Individual travel lost 14.0 percent to 3,229 million yen. Inbound travel surged 33.8 percent to 266 million yen.

KNT spun off, as of January 1, the business of Hokkaido and Kyushu districts to be succeeded by the new companies of Kinki Nippon Tourist Hokkaido Co. and Kinki Nippon Tourist Kyushu Co. respectively, but it will consolidate the business results of these two to KNT itself until the end of this year just for the sake of statistical reference.

Source: Travel Vision

Travel Vision Inc. provides information on the travel industry in Japan via "Daily Travel Vision", a Japanese-language e-mail newsletter, and the "Travel Vision" website. There are nearly 110,000 people working in the Japanese travel industry, and Travel Vision is proud to be bringing travel news to more than 30,000 people through Daily Travel Vision.

Flight stewardess uniforms are becoming increasingly sought after by fetish enthusiasts and the sex industry. The blackmarket in cabin attendant uniforms could also be on the incline too, with the recent financial woes at Japan Airline. JAL flight attendants who may soon face the lay off could resort to cash in their sought-after air hostess uniforms.

The strict-looking JAL uniform is becoming extremely popular on the black market. The dark, subtle-coloured, straight cut hostess uniform is anything other than sexy, being described by a reporter. However JAL uniforms have long been sold in the secondary market with some of these uniforms, the genuine ones, fetching a premium price. Furthermore, if they are worn uniforms, along with a Polaroid photo of the woman who wore it, will sure go for a rocket high price. A full set worn by an actual stewardess could be worth several thousands of dollars.

As JAL plans to downsize and cut more than tens of thousands staff, including making redundant thousands over cabin attendants, there are fears that the influx of JAL uniforms for sale could worsen. Currently there is a strict rule in place, requiring employees who are leaving the company, to return all company’s possessions including worn uniforms. JAL is also considering to follow in the footsteps of ANA, who had a similar problem with their uniforms, by sewing traceable computer chips into the uniforms to discourage their sale.

The blackmarket in flight attendant uniforms is also a concern for security reasons, as it could allow imposters to gain access to restricted areas in airports.

ANA (NH) has installed “Ladies-only Lavatory” on international routes as from 1st March 2010, except the flights which operated by Airbus A320 and Boeing B737 fleets. Following many requests from passengers for this service, one ladies-only lavatory will be located in the aft section of the Economy Class.

ANA will continue its efforts to improve its service by taking passengers’ requests such as arranging equipments for ladies etc. All the installing work on all the planned fleets will be completed by the end of April.

Even if this facility is for ladies-only, in the case of emergencies such as when required for safety reasons, just prior to the seat belt sign being turned on during take-off and landing, or when a passenger is not feeling well and a personal urgent requires such use, men passengers may be allowed to use these facilities. Also if there are very few female passengers, the ladies-only designation may be lifted for the flight. In such cases, passengers will be informed through an in-flight announcement. In addition, the facility will be used by passengers with disabilities.

Source: Travel Vision

Travel Vision Inc. provides information on the travel industry in Japan via "Daily Travel Vision", a Japanese-language e-mail newsletter, and the "Travel Vision" website. There are nearly 110,000 people working in the Japanese travel industry, and Travel Vision is proud to be bringing travel news to more than 30,000 people through Daily Travel Vision.