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‘Japanese tourists to spend more at yearend’
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Posted on Dec 22 2005
Japanese people traveling outside their country this yearend are expected to spend more for their trips, according to a top travel management agency based in Japan.
Results of a survey by JTB Corp. showed that Japanese travel spending would average $1,695 this yearend. This represents a 3.8 percent increase over last year’s average spending of $1,633.
JTB attributed the increase to the popularity of more remote destinations and longer trips. There is also additional effect from the surcharges made for higher fuel costs.
“However, if we deduct the effect of the surcharges, the increase for overseas travel is only 0.8 percent,” JTB said.
The survey was conducted at 200 locations throughout Japan from Nov. 4 through Nov. 14.
Some 2,200 people were interviewed individually regarding their plans to travel during the New Year season, which covers the period between Dec. 23, 2005 and Jan. 3, 2006. The survey did not include commercial or other business travel.
JTB also projected that Saipan and Guam combined would receive 52,000 Japanese visitors during the yearend travel season.
Due to preference for more remote destinations such as Europe and North America, the average length of trips will be 3.8 days, an increase by 0.2 of a day.
The survey results also indicated that 72.8 percent of the travelers would be making the trip with their family. About 12.4 percent will travel with friends and acquaintances, 0.6 with fellow workers, and 13.6 will travel alone.
About half of the Japanese travelers said they would make the trip to show up at family gatherings.
As for those who will be staying home, over 50 percent said they would rather relax at home. Over one third said they wanted to avoid the busy travel season, while about 22 percent said travel costs too much.
The question allowed for multiple answers. Other reasons cited for not traveling were work, home budget restrictions, domestic situation, economic recession, and health reasons.
