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From Thailand★Welcome to Japan's Regions! Autumn/Winter Tourism PR at Travel Fair
"Discover a Japan you've never seen!" – At the "International Travel Fair" (TITF) tourism exhibition held in Bangkok, Thailand, in August, Japan's tourism industry and local governments rolled out their attraction strategies for the peak season from October to December. This was reported by NNA, which distributes economic information on Asia.
October marks the peak season for Thailand's travel market until year-end. This period sees increased family travel due to the break before the new school term. Travelers to Japan are surging, buoyed by tailwinds like short-stay visa exemptions and the proliferation of low-cost carriers. From January to June this year, visitor numbers reached approximately 420,000, a 28% increase year-on-year. Full-year figures are projected to reach 750,000 to 800,000, an increase of about 20% compared to last year.
Kazuhiro Ito, Director of the Japan National Tourism Organization's Bangkok office, commented, "The tide turned around August last year." He noted that the proportion of repeat visitors arranging their own travel, rather than taking package tours, is rising. There is growing demand not only for standard itineraries but also for more novel sightseeing experiences.
Okinawa Prefecture, which reopened its Singapore office this April, is also focusing on Thai travelers. It has set a goal of attracting a total of 70,000 visitors this year from Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. To achieve this target, it plans to increase charter flights connecting Changi Airport and Naha Airport.
This marks the second participation for the Chugoku Regional Tourism Promotion Council, following last August. "Thai tourists are still relatively scarce in the Chugoku region," said a council representative. The organization described the current stage as "finally seeing concrete inquiries from people planning trips to Japan."
■Charter Flight Restrictions Pour Cold Water
Securing air routes is key to attracting tourists to regional areas. However, while regions focus on attracting visitors, Japan is restricting Thai aircraft operations. This is a measure following the International Civil Aviation Organization's expression of concern this year about Thailand's operational oversight system. One tourism industry insider sighed, "We have charter flights scheduled for October this year, but the outlook is uncertain," describing the situation as a dampener. Some voices suggest the current situation could persist for the next year.
The key focus going forward will be whether Japan can expand the destination for foreign travel to encompass all of Japan, by increasing foreign tourists to regional areas, establishing regular flights, and creating a flow of tourism.
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