Saipan, Guam top honeymoon destinations

Saipan and Guam saw the biggest growth in overseas weddings, posting a 3.5 percent increase in popularity as a honeymoon destination by Japanese in 1999 compared to the previous year, according to a survey conducted by Japan Travel Bureau.

The JTB survey said shorter tour packages and cheaper rates were the biggest factors why Japanese honeymooners prefer Saipan and Guam.

While most tours to Saipan and Guam are set at four days, Look JTB has introduced shorter wedding packages which allow guests to take only three days off work. The survey noted that tour packages in Saipan and Guam are more affordable than other destinations, with reduced costs not only for the couple but also for their guests.

JTB, the biggest tour operator in the world, made the annual honeymoon market survey in its 12 offices in Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka. Some 3,236 couples responded to questionnaires distributed from Sept. 24-Oct. 1 of this year.

Average expenditure per couple in 1999 was $4,648, or an 8.4 percent decline from the previous year. This also shows a 43.8 percent plunge from the all-time peak of $8,267 registered expenditure in 1990.

The main reasons cited by the respondents for the continuing decrease in average expenditures are as follows:

•. More honeymoons are held at closer destinations, with correspondingly fewer days being spent away from Japan.

• Prices of package tours are dropping. For example, prices of Look JTB tours in the second half of 1999 have been reduced at an average of 4.8 percent from the same period in 1998.

In Autumn 1999, only 2.9 percent of Japanese spent their honeymoon in their own country while 97.1 percent traveled abroad. Average length of stay and cost in Japan was 4.7 days and an estimated $2,257 per couple. In spending their honeymoon overseas, average length of stay was 7.5 days at a cost of $4,724 per couple.

Hawaii remains the most popular honeymoon destination as it accounted for 60 percent of the total wedding market this year. Overall, Hawaii holds 26.4 percent of the wedding market in the world while Saipan and Guam got 6.1 percent.

The U.S. mainland and Australia ranked second and third, respectively.

Currently, various tour operators in Japan are selling specially planned “Millennium Tour” to witness the first break of dawn on Jan. 1, 2000 which are becoming popular. So far, five couples have already booked a “Millennium Wedding” for on Jan. 1, 2000.

Look JTB has been accepting bookings for wedding plans one year ahead for Hawaii, the U.S. mainland, Guam and Saipan and Oceania. Tours starting after April 2000 have not yet gone on sale, but there have been many requests to at least reserve the wedding ceremony in advance.

“JTB offices specializing in weddings are making a better start than last year, and have already received bookings from over 70 couples for ceremonies to be held after April, 2000,” the survey said.

Recently, couples have become more conscious on the exact wedding date even specifying the church where the ceremony will be held in the year 2000. Although cruises are popular among the middle-aged and elderly, more couples are choosing to go on honeymoon cruise. JTB said honeymoon cruise holds promise in the future as these have become more accessible providing lasting memories for couples.