1-1.Japanese Economic Trend (released in March 2009)

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1-2. Number of Japanese Overseas Travelers in December 2008

Japan National Tourist Organization announced that the total number of Japanese overseas travelers in December 2008 was 1,275,000, a 7.0% decrease over December 2007. In total for January till December numbers fell by 7.6% from the previous year. A further decline of the outbound travel market is more obvious when compared with the growth rate of October, an 8.8% decrease from the same month of previous year.
For December, an increase in Japanese visitor arrival is seen with Korea (+51.7%), Hong Kong (+5.0%), Macau (+25.7%) and North Mariana (+19.7%). A continuous decrease was also seen in the Japanese arrival to Hawaii (-15.5%), Guam (-13.1%), Australia (-26.9%), and New Zealand (-14.4%).

Narita International Airport reported that the number of Japanese departures in December 2008 was 665,998 down 9.8% from the same month of the year before. Kansai International Airport recorded 269,270, (-9.2%), and Central Japan International Airport 135,570, (-12.3%).

Number of Japanese Overseas Travelers in 2008

** Estimated by JNTO.
X Estimated by the Ministry of Justice

Number of Japanese Overseas Travelers by Destinations Destinations October to December 2008

Changes % = vs. the same month of the year before 　　*Figures not available
Source: Japan Tourism Marketing Co, and JNTO

Number of Japanese Overseas Travelers by Departure Airport (Dec. 2008）

1-3. Number of Inbound Travelers in December 2008

According to the JNTO, the number of inbound travelers for December 2008 dropped to 513,700, a 24.1% decrease from the same period in the previous year, largely due to the depreciation of their currency against JPY. For December 2008, Japan experienced an increase of visitors only from China (+0.5%), while Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Canada, U.K., Germany, Australia and U.S.A. showed a significant decrease. A sharp drop of Korean visitors is largely due to depreciation of KRW against JPY.

Number of Inbound Travelers by Destinations September to November 2008

Source: JNTO

1-4. Gross Sales of Major Companies (Outbound Travel Products)

Gross sales in outbound travel of the top 50 travel companies were approximately 198 billion JPY in December 2008. It has decreased by 10.3% from the same month of the previous year. Gross sales of outbound package tours were 66.8 billion JPY in December 2008, decreased by 7.2% from the year ago, while total number of tourists on package tours decreased by 6.0%.

Chart 1: Major Wholesalers Sales (Dec. 2008)

KNT: Kinki Nippon Tourist, NTA: Nippon Travel Agency, HEI: Hankyu Express International,
TOP: Toptour Corporation (formerly Tokyu Tourist Corporation)

Chart 2: Gross Sales of the Top 50 Travel Companies　 (Dec. 2008)

Chart3: Gross Sales of Package Tours 　(Dec. 2008)

Chart4: Per Person Sales　 (Dec. 2008)