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

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1-2. Number of Japanese Overseas Travelers in March 2009

Japan National Tourist Organization announced that the total number of Japanese overseas travelers in March 2009 was 1,409,000, a 3.2% decrease over March 2008.
For March, an increase in Japanese visitor arrival is seen with short-haul destinations; Korea (+55.3%), accelerated by depreciation of Korean Won against Japanese Yen, Macau (+23.1%), and beach resorts; North Mariana (+4.0%) and Hawaii (+0.6%). A continuous decrease was seen in the Japanese arrival to Canada (-23.4%), Australia (-17.2%), New Zealand (-11.8%), and China (-14.4%).

Narita International Airport reported that the number of Japanese departures in March 2009 was 743,180 down 5.7% from the same month of the year before. Kansai International Airport recorded 292,878, (-5.5%), and Central Japan International Airport 152,982, (-10.6%).

Number of Japanese Overseas Travelers by Destinations January 2008 to March 2009

**nges % = 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 (Mar. 2009）

1-3. Number of Inbound Travelers in March 2009

According to the JNTO, the number of international visitors for March 2009 was 568,900, a 22.2% fall from the same period of the previous year, largely due to financial crises and the depreciation of major foreign currencies against JPY. A major decrease of tourist arrival was seen with markets where the tourist traffic was largely affected by the shift of Easter vacation to April. From Korea, visitor arrival to Japan was down 42.2% from March 2008, Hong Kong, 38.8%, and Singapore 32.3%. The recent depreciation of KRW against JPY remains to be a discouraging factor for Koreans to visit Japan.

Number of Inbound Travelers by Destinations December 2008 to March 2009

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 180 billion JPY in March 2009. It has decreased by 17.7% from the same month of the previous year. Gross sales of outbound package tours in March 2009 were 55.3 billion JPY, decreased by 14.7% from the year ago, while total number of tourists on package tours increased by 1.0%.

Chart 1: Major Wholesalers Sales (Mar. 2009)

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　 (Mar. 2009)

Chart3: Gross Sales of Package Tours 　(Mar. 2009)

Chart4: Per Person Sales　 (Mar. 2009)