Japan bookings creep back
Bookings to Japan are recovering in the wake of last year’s earthquake and tsunami, with business travel outpacing leisure bookings.
Figures by the Japan National Tourism Office (JNTO) show total visitor numbers dipped more than 27% for the year ending 2011 following the March 11 disaster.
Leisure travel saw a 32.9% drop from January to October 2011 compared with 2010, while business travel decreased 16.3% over the same period.
While many meetings and events were cancelled soon after the disaster, JNTO Sydney executive director, Yukio Yamashita revealed that business travel has recovered quicker than leisure bookings.
"Restoration has been going steadily in the affected areas… and many conferences and meetings are planned to be held in 2012," he said. "Buyers have a positive attitude and are willing to promote Japan for future MICE."
Yamashita explained that the booking lull followed concerns that nuclear radiation was widespread, causing event organisers to cancel or postpone events.
But bookings bounced back after the Japanese Government forwarded written letters to local convention bureaus assuring the affected areas were safe, he added.
"Japan is steadily recovering from the effects of the earthquake, and facilities throughout Japan are awaiting to welcome back business and tourism visitors," he said.
Meanwhile, Japan Tourist Bureau (JTB) sales manager Kieran Greenhow said MICE bookings are still down as safety concerns still linger.
"We’re finding companies are still anxious about taking incentive tours to Japan, and MICE is still a bit slow," he told The Nibbler.
However, with education tours steadily rebounding, Greenhow remained confident things would turn around. "MICE bookings are not as strong as in past years, but things are improving and we are positive," he said.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
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