JTB has released results from its latest online survey that shows nearly six in every ten consumers plan to travel during the autumn season.

 

That positive news for the travel retail sector was reported in the latest weekly edition of Travel Journal International (TJI) Online*, which noted: “Bookings for overseas travel during the September–November period at eight Japanese major tour wholesalers are moving favourably thanks to strong demand for Asia and Guam/Saipan.”

 

TJI said that 58.1% of respondents have made or plan to make a trip during the autumn season, a ratio topping the previous record of 55.3% set in 2005 and the 57.1% of 2006. The ratio also outpaced the 55.2% level from the recent summer season, indicating strong travel demand for the autumn.

 

TJI said: “As for package tours, a year-on-year comparison for LOOK JTB outbound-tour bookings bound for Asia during the September-November period shows an +18.3% gain in September, a +15.0% jump in October and a -1.6% dip in November.

 

"For European destinations, however, the survey results revealed gains of +7.2% for September, +11.6% for October and +2.7% for November.”

 

The survey revealed that some 70% of consumers aged 60 years and older plan to make a trip, outpacing their younger counterparts between 20 and 59 years of age who posted a ratio of over 50%. The difference reflects a gap in demand between the employed and retirees, said JTB.