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JATA Independent Surveys

(July 11, 2006) 2006 Overseas Package Tour Actual Results for April to June Status of Bookings for July to September (Five Package Tour Travel Agencies) Headline (Passenger base: %) Actual Results for April to June - Thanks to the favorable sequence of days off during the Golden Week holidays, many packages with May departures performed well All destinations: 106.5% (May) [Compared to results for the previous year] - A year after being derailed by anti-Japan demonstrations last May and June, China destinations recovered, exceeding 2004 levels China destinations: 218.1% (May); 241.2% (June) [Compared to results for the previous year] Status of Bookings for July to September - July and August bookings were brisk, driven in part by early booking discounts Totals for all destinations: 100.6% (July); 108.7% (August) [Compared to the same period last year] - Asia was the favored destination for summer vacations, while other top destinations varied from agency to agency Asian destinations: 103.0% (July); 123.5% (August) [Compared to the same period last year] - With fewer three-day weekends in September this year, September bookings are lagging, except for European destinations Totals for all destinations: 88.5% (September) [Compared to the same period last year] Overseas Package Tour Actual Results and Status of Bookings by Destination (Five Package Tour Travel Agencies) 2006 Results Comparison Booking Levels (Year-on-year comparisons from early July) Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. U.S. and Canada 81.4% 89.4% 95.9% 89.7% 97.2% 78.4% Hawaii 100.9% 89.1% 90.1% 86.2% 95.8% 85.1% Guam and Saipan 88.3% 88.1% 91.9% 95.7% 91.4% 70.5% Europe 97.4% 102.9% 85.8% 97.9% 112.2% 103.2% Oceania 84.9% 94.4% 93.6% 93.5% 97.1% 86.2% Asia 91.7% 126.6% 118.1% 103.0% 123.5% 90.7% China 91.0% 218.1% 241.2% 213.8% 247.8% 155.7% Total 93.5% 106.5% 102.7% 100.6% 108.7% 88.5% (Passenger base: %) Results Comparison from April to June (Five Package Tour Travel Agencies) Status of Bookings for July through September (Five Package Tour Travel Agencies) Agencies surveyed JTB Corp., Kinki Nippon Tourist Co., Ltd., Nippon Travel Agency Co., Ltd., Jalpak Co., Ltd., Hankyu Express International Co., Ltd. In order to grasp future overseas travel trends by destination, each quarter the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA) conducts a survey of overseas package tours offered at five package tour travel agencies. For this survey the actual results for each month during the period from April through June 2006, and the status of bookings for the period of July through September 2006 were compared with the totals at five package tour travel agencies for the same periods the year before. This survey was carried out at the beginning of July 2006. Actual Results for April to June With five consecutive days off during the Golden Week holidays, Asian destinations within easy reach of Japan were most popular, lifting Golden Week travel this year to 126.6% compared to last year The 250th Anniversary of Mozart's birth and the many other events going on in Europe attracted travelers, especially those in the middle-aged segment. May travel rose to 102.9% compared to the previous year Recovering from the deleterious effects of anti-Japan demonstrations last May and June, China destinations rallied to over 200% compared to last year. Although there was some disparity among travel agencies, results overall exceeded 2004 levels. Status of Bookings for July to September Individual travel agencies are taking advantage of early booking discounts and other initiatives to lock in bookings. These coupled with an improved economic climate are generating brisk summer vacation demand for Asian destinations, especially in the family travel segment. July and August bookings already exceed 2005. August and September bookings for European destinations are brisk, especially for the middle-aged traveler segment, due to the many special events in Europe this year. The fewer number of three-day weekends in September this year is having a negative impact on September bookings for all but European destinations. Please direct any inquires or comments concerning the above to the JATA Public Relations Department TEL: 03-3592-1244FAX: 03-3592-1268 back to the previous page Copyright(c) 2006 Japan Association of Travel Agents. All rights reserved.