TokyoTomo Travel Guide

Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA) has taken initiative for member agencies to bring forward joint travel plans in a bid to increase foreign visitors to Japan. The products hit the market on August 6 under the control of JTB Global Marketing and Travel. The scheme was conceived as part of the programs for Visit Japan Year 2010 in line with the intension of JATA Inbound Travel Committee members to offer recommendable tours with safety and security guaranteed. This is the first attempt ever of joint scheme implemented by JATA members.

Under the circumstances in which FIT demand is expected to rise significantly of Chinese nationals with relaxation of individual tourist visa restrictions, Yasunori Kyozu, director of Domestic and Inbound Travel Division at JATA, insists that package tours catering to those growing number of visitors are unarguably deficient. It is considered too risky at the same time, he points out, to operate FIT circular tours visiting Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Okinawa by any single travel agency as it is difficult to collect enough customers on its own to pay off.

As means of sales promotion, JATA has made out multi-lingual web contents to introduce those products. The contents are shown on the JATA website to notify its members of the scheme and, at the same time, are linked with the each site of Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)’s overseas offices. They will also appear on the web magazine of Japan Tourism Agency (JTA) and be featured into Visit Japan programs. With regard to promotion for overseas travel agencies, JATA organizes a presentation on September 17 in Shanghai on the occasion when it holds a meeting of the Inbound Travel Committee there.

Those package tours are basically composed of two types; one is circular trips and the other is free-plan trips. The circular trips include 22 courses to Hokkaido, 15 courses to Kyushu, and 21 courses to Okinawa with each course attended by a licensed official guide. Free-plan trips are six-day tours traveling on bullet trains, departing either from Tokyo or Osaka. The free-plan trips are intended to embrace upcoming FIT travelers from China and other parts of Asia.

Target markets are Chinese-speaking areas such as China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, as well as Europe, America, Australia, and English-speaking countries in Asia. The operation period is set in coordination with the autumn campaign of Visit Japan Year, namely, from October 2010 through March 2011.

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.

Junzo Hikita, who assumed office of Charter Coordinator of Outbound Travel Division at Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA) on June 7, told the Travel Vision that during the past one and a half months alone he has actually received consultations from travel agencies and local governments on specific charter flight plans. With efforts to further promote charter flight business, Hikita aims to set up an “information page” exclusively for charter flight-related information on the JATA’s website by the end of August and also plans to visit the respective JATA chapters including Tohoku, Chubu, Kyushu and Okinawa for an exchange of opinions about charter business.

The charter information page on the JATA website expects not only to introduce actual charter flight business, be it a success or a failure, but also to introduce various efforts being addressed by airports, local governments and tourism boards. Hikita is of the opinion that if all concerned could share the information objectively, it could help them to collect many facts as a basis for a final decision to operate charter flights. Besides, if the page gives access to information on charter package products currently being sold, with a link to the tourism boards and the travel agencies, it should provide sales opportunities to travel agencies, thus reducing risks, if any, in operating charter flights. The members of Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA) will be notified of the planned website concerning its contents.

Meanwhile, there are queries asking how seats left unsold can be disposed or whether some tour modules can be wholesaled, said Hikita, adding that JATA is also considering reviewing whether or not the ITC charter rules should be further deregulated.

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.

Aggregate monthly sales of overseas package tours achieved by major operators were down 13.2 percent in April from last year but up 3.8 percent and 46.8 percent in May and June respectively, according to a research made by Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA). The growth in June was particularly noticeable on the rebound from the previous year’s severe slump caused by the outbreak of new strain of flu, and some destinations saw an extraordinary growth as is exemplified by North America’s 195.4 percent.

By destination, Hawaii, Kong Kong/Macau, and China exhibited a growth for three months running. Taiwan showed a two-digit growth in May and June after a 5.4 percent dip in April. Europe sustained a fall of 20 percent in April due to the Icelandic volcanic eruption but recovered to a growth of 1.5 percent and 40.5 percent in the following months.

In the outlook of booking status for July through September, September looks dismal with negative performance of 18.6 percent in deficiency of a long holiday week of the previous year, but July and August are in good form with a gain of 1.7 percent and 15.1 percent respectively. Hawaii, in particular, shows good performance in each of the three months, surpassing the status a year earlier. To take a look at the limited period of summer vacation from July to August, it is noteworthy that North America makes a jump of 112.3 percent in growth for July and 62.2 percent for August; likewise, Oceania sees a gain of 36.6 percent for July and 51.8 percent for August.

Thailand, on the other hand, where political riots happened in Bangkok, is suffering severe setback in July-September bookings as well as the April-June track records.

Note:
JATA’s above research was made with JTB, Kinki Nippon Tourist, Nippon Travel Agency, Hankyu Travel International, JALPAK, ANA Sales, and H.I.S. Be advised that ANA Sales does not operate package tours to Guam/Saipan and Oceania; therefore, they are not counted in.

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.