Jump in Japan visitors forecast

By Kelly Yamanouchi
Advertiser Staff Writer

A stronger Japanese economy and favorable exchange rate could translate into a nearly 24 percent jump in Japanese travel overseas this year, according to the latest statistics from a major Japanese travel agency and Hawai'i travel executives.

Japanese tour wholesaler JTB expects overseas travel to increase 23.6 percent over last year when the war in Iraq and SARS kept many Japanese close to home. The company expects 16.5 million Japanese to travel overseas in 2004, a recovery to 2002 levels.

While JTB didn't give a specific prediction for visitors to Hawai'i in 2004, it did say Hawai'i was part of a recovery in Japanese travel abroad in the second half of last year. JTB said it hopes to capitalize on the trend this year by promoting family travel to the Islands and encouraging schools to bring students here for nature and culture studies.

"It looks like there's optimism for the Japan market and positive trends moving into the next year," said Dave Erdman, president of local marketing firm PacRim Marketing Group Inc., which specializes in Japan marketing.

Karen Hughes, regional vice president for sales and marketing for Starwood Hotels & Resorts, said her company is also sees growth in the works for Japanese tourism, "and we just hope it continues."

The Hawai'i Tourism Authority's projections for travel from Japan this year are also looking up. The authority's target for Japan travel is about 1.5 million visitors, up about 14 percent from the estimated 1.3 million who came in 2003. The peak for Japanese visitors to Hawai'i was 1997 when 2.2 million came.

"The Japanese yen has been relatively strong. The Japanese economy is strengthening," said Frank Haas, marketing director for the tourism authority. For the tourism industry as a whole, including Japan, "We should have a good 2004."

Reach Kelly Yamanouchi at 535-2470, or at kyamanouchi@honoluluadvertiser.com.