Tourism New Year holidays: Japan domestic travel spending to hit new record

[thomas]

According to the travel agency JTB, domestic travellers in Japan are expected to spend a record 41,000 JPY (USD278) per person in the upcoming New Year's holiday period. Domestic travellers from 23 December to 3 January are growing 4% on the year to 28 million -- 96% of the pre-pandemic figure from the 2019-20 holiday season.

Around a quarter are visiting the Kanto region, which includes Tokyo, making it the most popular destination. The Kinki region, which includes Kyoto and Osaka, followed at 16%. The Tokai region, which includes Nagoya, came in third at 12%. More people also appear to be planning longer trips of three to six nights than a year earlier, according to JTB's forecast, which is based on surveys, spending trends and airline reservations. [...] Meanwhile, international travel has been slow to recover because of expensive airfares and a weak yen. Around 580,000 people will travel abroad during the upcoming holidays, according to JTB -- up about 160% on the year but still only 70% or so of the pre-pandemic figure. A lack of airline capacity is another factor. All Nippon Airways is operating 1,381 international flights around the new year, while Japan Airlines is operating 1,363 -- the equivalent of 65% and 78% of the pre-pandemic figure.

Paywall alert:

Japan domestic travel spending to hit new record this holiday season

People seen splurging more and traveling for longer as COVID fades to background

asia.nikkei.com