Japan Bookings to the United States

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. February 24, 2010

24 February 2010 -

Third Quarter 2009 Bookings: Extremely Weak

• Japan bookings to the United States decreased 10 to 15 percent on average in the third quarter of 2009, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce sponsored Japan Travel Trade Barometer. None of the Japan trade reported an increase.

Fourth Quarter 2009: Projected to Continue to Decline

• The majority, 78 percent of the Japan travel trade projected bookings to the United States to decrease in the fourth quarter of 2009 compared to the fourth quarter of 2008.

First Quarter 2010: Projected Bookings to be Lower

• A slight majority, 52 percent of the Japan firms that promote and sell Japan travel projected a decrease in bookings to the United States for the first quarter of 2010 compared to last year.

Travel Deterrents and Motivators

• The primary drivers for the expected decline for travel from Japan to the United States are concerns related to the economy, airfare/fuel surcharges and pandemic/epidemic fears (e.g., H1N1 Flu).
• The travel trade reported that the exchange rate was the strongest motivator for travel through first quarter 2010.

Total Japan Arrivals* to the United States: Third Quarter 2009

• Third quarter 2009 arrivals from Japan totaled 849,687, down five percent compared to third quarter 2008.
• In July 2009, Japan arrivals totaled 244,412, down 15 percent when compared to July 2008.
• Visitation improved slightly in August 2009, totaling 295,840, down only eight percent when compared to August 2008.
• In September 2009, arrivals from Japan registered their first increase in 15 months reaching 309,435, up eight percent when compared to September 2008.

BACKGROUD AND SOURCE:
Travel Market Insights (www.travelmi.com) conducts the Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, Germany and Japan Travel Trade Barometer programs. The U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Travel and Tourism Industries, is a sponsor and was the initial developer of the barometer program. The Barometer program is conducted with support from the U.S. Commercial Service and various Visit USA Committees and additional sponsors.

The Travel Trade Barometer survey is conducted on a quarterly basis in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Germany and Japan and is available through subscription. Reports sent to subscribers include additional information, such as:

• Bookings - looking at the past quarter and the next two quarters for U.S. and competitive regional destinations;
• Short term bookings for more than five specific travel segments; and
• Over 15 motivators or deterrents for travel to the United States. Specific (proprietary) destination data is also available through a subscription.

For more information on the Travel Barometer Program, please visit:
http://tinet.ita.doc.gov/research/programs/barometer/index.html

Media Contact:
Office of Travel and Tourism Industries
[email protected]