According to the U.S. Department of Commerce-sponsored Japan Travel Trade Barometer, bookings to the United States were down four to nine percent, on average, in the fourth quarter 2009 compared to the same period in 2008. Eighty-one percent of Japan tour operators reported (as of January 24 – March3, 2010) that bookings decreased in the fourth quarter 2009, with 38 percent of the trade reporting that bookings decreased more than 10 percent…
According to the U.S. Department of Commerce-sponsored Japan Travel Trade Barometer, bookings to the United States were down four to nine percent, on average, in the fourth quarter 2009 compared to the same period in 2008. Eighty-one percent of Japan tour operators reported (as of January 24 – March3, 2010) that bookings decreased in the fourth quarter 2009, with 38 percent of the trade reporting that bookings decreased more than 10 percent.
First Quarter 2010 Bookings Projected to be Flat
On average, the Japan trade projected bookings for the first quarter 2010 to be about the same as the first quarter 2009. Fifty percent of the trade projected bookings to be on par with last year. Thirty-two percent of the trade projected a decrease in bookings.
Second Quarter 2010 Bookings Projected to Increase
A strong majority of the Japan tour operators (68 percent) projected second quarter 2010 bookings from Japan to the United States to be higher (64 percent) and much higher (five percent). Nearly one quarter of the trade projected bookings to be on par with last year. In contrast, approximately nine percent of the trade projected lower bookings for the second quarter 2010 compared with the same period in 2008.
Travel Motivators and Deterrents
In the next six months, the top factor rated as a motivator for bookings from Japan to the United States was the level of promotion by U.S. destinations and businesses, reflecting the hopefulness of the Travel Promotion Act. This was followed by deregulation of charter flights and the exchange rate to the U.S. dollar. The primary barriers for travel to the United States were reported to be airfare and fuel charges, visa processing time, the requirement to implement the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) and pandemics/epidemics issues.
Actual Japan Arrivals to the United States: Annual 2009 and Fourth Quarter 2009
Actual 2009 arrivals from Germany totaled 2.9 million, decreasing ten percent when compared to 2008. Fourth quarter 2009 arrivals from Japan totaled 749,000, up one percent compared to fourth quarter 2008.
– In October 2009, Japan arrivals totaled 254,000, down two percent when compared to October 2008.
– Visitation in November 2009, totaling 234,000, was flat when compared to November 2008.
– In December 2009, arrivals from Japan increased four percent (261,000) when compared to December 2008.
Tatiana is the news co-ordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes to monitor the hundrends of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skim the most important according to our strategy. She holds a Bachelor degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
