Overseas travels by Japanese projected to hit record levels

The number of Japanese who will travel overseas for this summer (July 1-August 31) is estimated to reach 3.23 million, or 102.2 percent up from last year’s record, according to a survey of the travel-market trends in the year 2000 summer season conducted by Japan Travel Bureau.

Domestic travel in Japan during the period is estimated to shoot up 100.1 percent from the previous record, or a total of 82.58 million. This is the second year in which domestic and foreign travelers have expanded over the previous years, promising to reach record levels.

The growth in travel demand this summer was due to the effect of increased summer bonus payments which encouraged personal consumption and longer company holidays.

JTB, the biggest travel company in the world, carried out the survey from June 7-15, 2000 in some 200 locations throughout Japan covering men and women over 18 years of age.

In overseas travels, popular destinations among Japanese are Hong Kong, Europe and Bali, Indonesia.

Hong Kong has always been a favorite Japanese destination as travel there peaked in 1996 but the number has declined since then. Four years after, arrivals to Hong Kong have shown recovery especially among Japanese women who have combined the three elements of “shopping, gourmet meals and aesthetic treatments” in their travel plans. Many mothers are traveling with their daughters.

Many Japanese have favored Europe since many of them would like to participate in the special events that are held there to celebrate the new millennium or enjoy the advantages of the higher yen rate in their shopping. In Europe, the perennially popular destinations are Italy and Spain followed by Switzerland and France.

Indonesia (Bali Island) has been featured in many women’s magazines devoted to healing and particularly popular among young age group. Bali has established a pattern for making aesthetic treatments available at de luxe hotels.

There are also high hopes for Vietnam which began showing growth last year, increase in arrivals in Cuba which will have direct flights in August, and recovery in the number of visitors to Egypt.

Meanwhile, the destinations registering declines include Taiwan, Hawaii and the US mainland. Taiwan is still suffering from the long-term effects of the September 1999 earthquake while decline in the number of Japanese arrivals on Hawaii is due to the cutback in the number of flights. The US mainland seems to be suffering from the temporary hiatus of interest in the West Coast theme parks and in demand from honeymooners.

For overseas travel, average amount spent per person will reach $1,922, the first rise in overseas expenditures in four years. Bookings for JTB package tours show that the most preferred date for departures will be on Aug. 12, 13 and 14. The Buddhist “All Souls” festival accounts for the main peak with a second peak for “Marine Day” (a National Holiday) on July 20 and 19.