Japan Travel Trade Weekly News
Keeping you abreast of what's going on in the
Japanese travel and tourism industries.
News consolidated by Travel Vision, Inc. updated every week.
Total Revenue of Leading Travel Agencies Down 3.7% in March, Gained
1.4% for FY2007
End-May 2008
Total revenue of leading travel agencies in March dipped 1.0
percent from last year to 567 billion yen. Revenue of overseas travel
fell 3.7 percent to 222.6 billion yen, indicating its eight-month
long positive growth discontinued in March. Domestic travel recorded
a small gain of 0.9 percent at 339.8 billion yen, while foreign
visitors travel was down 2.5 percent to 4.6 billion yen. Package tour
sales in overseas travel lost 3.4 percent to 65.4 billion yen, but
gained 1 percent in domestic travel to 97.7 billion and 24.2 percent
in foreign visitors travel to 0.4 billion yen. The number of
customers handled was 424,728 for overseas travel, down 7.6 percent,
4,189,224 for domestic travel, up 2.6 percent, and 18,592 for foreign
visitors travel, up 21.4 percent.
Regarding sales of overseas travel for the month, on an
unconsolidated basis, H.I.S. ranked No. 1 with 27,262 million yen
(growth: -0.6%), followed by JTB World Vacations with 20,445 million
yen (+1.4%), Hankyu Express with 19,357 million yen (-9.3%), Kinki
Nippon Tourist with 15,409 million yen (-5.4%), and Nippon Express
with 12,336 million yen (+0.9%).
In terms of growth in sales, KNT Tourist that underwent a
structural reform topped the list with 136.4 percent (sales: 2,917
million yen), followed by i.JTB with 81.4 percent (837 million yen)
and Hitachi Travel Bureau with 21.2 percent (1,989 million yen).
* Positive Growth Achieved for All of FY2007
The accumulative sales achieved during the fiscal 2007 - from
April 2007 through March 2008 - were up 2.4 percent year-on-year at
6,818 yen billion, of which 2,703 billion yen was for overseas
travel, up 1.4 percent, 4,051 billion yen for domestic travel, up 2.8
percent, and 62 billion yen for foreign visitors travel, up 26.4
percent; thus, all sectors registered a positive growth over the
previous year.
Overseas package tours, despite a drop of 1.7 percent in customer
count to 4,805,590, gained 2.0 percent in sales to 818 billion yen.
Domestic package tours rose 4.0 percent in sales to 1,057 billion yen
and 5.0 percent in customers to number 42,891,584. Package tours for
foreign visitors grew 29.8 percent in sales to 3.3 billion yen and
31.1 percent in customers to 204,755.
In sales of overseas travel for the year, on an unconsolidated
basis, H.I.S. took the top place with 304 billion yen (growth:
+5.5%), followed by JTB World Vacations with 256 billion yen (+6.6%),
Hankyu Express with 249 billion yen (+1.6%), Kinki Nippon Tourists
with 174 billion yen (-4.5%), and Nippon Travel Agency with 156
billion yen (-8.3%).
As far as growth rate is concerned, KNT Tourist placed first with
a growth of 40.4 percent (sales: 19 billion yen), followed by i.JTB
with 33.7 percent (6.5 billion yen), Hitachi Travel Bureau with 24.2
percent (21.6 billion yen), Nissin Travel Service with 15.8 percent
(50.6 billion yen), and M.O. Touist with 8.4 percent (43.8 billion
yen).
British Airways to Carefully Study New IT Fare Proposal in
Consultation with Head Office and JATA
End-May 2008
Julianne Rogers, British Airways Manager Japan and Korea,
commenting on a petition sent to all airlines in Japan by Japan
Association of Travel Agents (JATA) that calls for an introduction of
new IT fares, said, "We will consult with the head office."
The focal point of the petition is to unify fuel surcharges and
fares among others. While he indicated understanding toward a
proposal to abolish surcharges to infants, he limited himself to a
statement, "We need to confirm details of the proposed IT fares
including JATA's handling of fuel surcharges. We plan to make
inquiries with JATA."
He stated his view that "The oil price soared from US$52 per
barrel a year ago to about US$120 per barrel, more than double. This
is a matter not to be resolved by the level of fuel surcharge nor by
a unified pricing. The fuel price has become a major contributor of
cost increase for the airline industry." He indicated his recognition
that the present surcharge system, which determines the level of
surcharges in tandem with fuel prices, has proved to be effective so
far.
With regard to an approach for demand expansion, he maintained
that it is important to collaborate with British Tourist Authority,
tourist agency such as Visit London and travel agents. He continued
by saying "It's not just the price that stimulates the market. There
exists a need to explore ways to determine right target segment and
how and where to stimulate."
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