1-1.Japanese Economic Trend (May 2011)

1-2. Number of Japanese Overseas Travelers in March 2011

Japan National Tourist Organization announced that the estimated number of Japanese overseas travelers in March 2011 was 1,732,000, a 12.2% decrease over March 2010, and that in April is estimated 1,104,000, a 9.0% decrease from April 2010. The 3.11 earthquake and tsunami, coupled with the radiation issues at Fukushima nuclear power plant, have spread a nation-wide reluctance to enjoy leisure activities including traveling. The outbound passenger traffic was further constrained by the temporary suspension of the international flights serving Japan and down-sizing of the aircrafts.

In March, Taiwan +1.9%, Thailand +3.1%, and Viet Nam +10.0% saw a growth of Japanese tourist arrivals over the same month of previous year. The increase in air seat capacity from Tokyo-Haneda to Taipei and Thailand resulted in the remarkable growth of Japanese arrival to these destinations.

Narita International Airport reported that the number of Japanese departures in March 2011 was 584,351 dropped 27.9% from the same month of the year before. Haneda Airport recorded 201,293 (+121.7%), nearly threefold increase, which made the total international departure from two of the Tokyo Metropolitan Airport in March dropped by 12.1% from the same month of the previous year. Kansai International Airport 312,810, (-3.2%), and Central Japan International Airport 153,587, (-4.2%).

Number of Japanese Overseas Travelers by Destinations January to March 2011
Changes % = vs. the same month of the year before *Figures not available Source: Japan Tourism Marketing Co, and JNTO

1-3. Number of Inbound Travelers in March 2011

According to the JNTO, the number of international visitors to Japan for March 2011 dropped to 352,800 (-50.3%), and a further fall in April to 295,800 (-62.5%), less than a half of April 2010 figure.

Most of the countries and regions still have travel advisories to Japan, warning their citizens to postpone or refrain from visiting Japan for a non-essential trip. The radiation issue in Fukushima is the main deterrent for the potential visitors to Japan, even after the frequency of aftershock has dropped and the life in the cities in Japan is back to normal.

Following the Hong Kong's major tour operators resuming the operation of tours to Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan and China have begun sending the tourists and familiarization tour groups to Japan.

In March, the number of travelers to Japan from all countries was reduced to a half of that in March 2010. A sharp decline was found in the number of visitors from Hong Kong (-61.2%), Germany (-64.6%), and Thailand (58.7%).

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

Gross sales in outbound travel of the top 50 travel companies were approximately 174 billion JPY in March 2011. It has decreased by 10.2% from the same month of the previous year. Gross sales of outbound package tours in March 2011 were 52.5 billion JPY, decreased by 8.5% from the year ago, while total number of tourists on package tours decreased by 13.0%.