Japan is a key destination right and this season there is huge demand for travelers to witness the full bloom at the , cherry blossom season.
Gone are the days when people travelled only for sightseeing; the protagonist traveler of today seeks not only to see, he or she wants to do. It’s no longer to eat and drink the local culture; today’s travelers want to cook the food and mix the cocktail and take the selfie to prove it. The Indian protagonist traveller of today seeks experiences that allow him to engage with the destination and indulge in authentic local elements like cuisine via a cooking class with a local chef, learning scuba diving or a martial art, etc. Indian travelers are evolving rapidly and are demanding activities that are exclusive to the specific destinations they visit.
For such ‘protagonist‘ travelers, Japan’s cherry blossoms are not just pretty pink flowers: they are the floral embodiment of the country’s most deep-rooted cultural and philosophical beliefs. And cherry blossoms also provide the perfect opportunity for a ‘selfie moment’; the currency of today’s Third Age of Travel.
While the first age of travelling centered on the journey – from Homer’s Illiad to Cervantes’ Don Quixote – the second age focused the destination epitomized by the grand European tours of the 19th century. Today’s third age of travel is all about the traveler him or herself. For today’s ‘Instagram’ generation, it is not merely about the cherry blossoms, it is about the traveler’s ‘selfie’ in front of them!
As the season begins from April 1st and with Japan being a key destination that has caught the interest of Indian travelers , visitors from India and elsewhere are coming in record numbers to experience that most iconic of Japanese events, cherry blossom season. Tokyo is in full bloom from around April 1st, Northern cities like Hirosaki in Aomori region see the best blooms during the last week of April. Sapporo, sometime in May.
Thomas Cook India revealed:
- A 25% growth in Indian travellers to witness the spectacular blooms during Sakura/Cherry Blossom season. This year has seen a significant surge in demand of over 35%.
- The projected increase of cherry blossom travellers globally is expected to reach 70 percent for this period.
- The highlight is a massive shidare-zakura cherry tree; which is one of the most beautiful sights in Kyoto, particularly when lit up from below at night. For those who don’t mind crowds, this is a good place to observe the Japanese at their most natural.
- Indian travellers are displaying a strong inclination towards exploring/discovering fresh new destination and Japan has been emerging strongly on the leisure radar. The Cherry Blossom Season offers delightful scope to partake in the culture-cuisine of exotic Japan, set against the spectacular vistas of sakura pink clouds
Speaking on this ,Mr. Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head – Leisure Travel, MICE, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd commented ,” Japan is a key destination right and this season there is huge demand for travelers to witness the full bloom at the , cherry blossom season. Thomas Cook India is equally promoting Japan as a prime destination, not just summer but all through the year. Japan as a destination is witnessing a lot of demand, 2017 is the first year Thomas Cook India Limited has done a Cherry Blossom tour and it was a huge success where 44 people travelled in a group. We are already working on itineraries for more such experiences. The boost in tourism for Japan is also a result of Mr. Modi and India’s “Act East” Policy which acknowledges Japan as a favored destination.”
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales. She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
