Tour operator projects increase in arrivals during Golden Week

A survey conducted by Japan Travel Bureau, Inc., the biggest tour operator in the world, projects a 109 percent overall increase in tourist arrivals for Guam and Saipan during the Golden Week from April 27 through May 7.

However, the number of bookings for JTB group of companies showed a decrease on Japanese passengers going to Saipan for this year, according to Ikuo Katayama, president of Tasi Tours & Transportation, Inc.

In fact, the JTB survey shows that Guam will have an increased arrival in the Golden Week compared to Saipan. From 44,000 Japanese who traveled to Guam and Saipan last year, combined numbers are expected to jump to 48,000 this year.

The JTB survey on some 2,200 men and women now over 18 years of age covered 200 locations throughout Japan and was carried out in the early part of March.

Overseas Japanese travelers during the 11-day Golden Week will reach 583,000 this year, which is a 109.6 percent increase compared to 1999, the survey said.

JTB expects that a total of 21.52 million Japanese will travel during the 11-day Golden Week, or a 4.3 percent increase compared to 20.64 million in 1999, considered an all-time high in Japan. The projected increase is due to favorable sequence of holidays and slight reduction in uncertainties over the economic outlook.

Those who have been delaying their trips for various reasons may just take the Golden Week as an opportunity to take a long trip due to the effect of the millennium year and higher exchange rates of the yen against the US dollar.

Those who will be able to take May 1 and May 2 off and those who do not have to work on May 6, will be able to enjoy an unbroken sequence of nine holidays, a favorable pattern for those who want to make long journeys easier.

Bookings made with JTB suggest that the peak departure date for both domestic and overseas travel will be May 3.

The average amount spent per person will increase slightly to $434 this year compared to $429 record last year. On domestic travel, the average amount which will be spent per person is $385, a decline from the previous year’s $387.

Overseas travel spending per person is rising to $2,177 compared to $2,032 in 1999.

Decline in the total expenditures on domestic travel and the rise in the number of Japanese who favor overseas travel are:

• Families with children still at school appear to be taking rather shorter domestic trips than last year.

• Overseas travelers, including families and young working women appear to be using the nine-day maximum trips to more remote destinations such as Europe.