Members of ETC Japan
Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Malta,
The ETC Japan team
Monaco, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania,
Chairman:
Scandinavia (Denmark, Norway and Sweden),
Arjan van Well, Netherlands
Spain, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.
Co-chairman:
Roger Zbinden, Switzerland
Treasurer:
Peter Blumenstengel, Germany
Arjan van Well
The Japanese Economy and Outbound Travel
2004 Overview
· Travel to Europe during the so-called Golden Week holiday
· Japanese economy grew - GDP rose by 2.6% for the year as
period at the end of April and the beginning of May was up.
a whole in comparison with 2003 (although it declined in the last
National holidays fell on weekdays, making it possible to take
three quarters after exceptionally rapid growth in the first quarter).
up to ten days off by taking just two paid holidays.
This favoured intercontinental destinations.
· Unemployment fell below 5%.
· The Japan Association of Travel Agents launched an initiative
· Growth in consumer and business confidence.
at the end of 2004 to increase the number of outbound
travellers to twenty million by 2007. It is asking for NTOs'
· Clear upturn in the Japanese outbound travel market - 25% up
help in this. As part of the campaign, it has set up an online
on 2003 (a year severely affected by SARS and events in Iraq).
education system for travel professionals, with content
provided by NTOs.
· Double-digit percentage increases in visits to most European
countries, with new destinations in Eastern Europe attracting
ETC activities in Japan
significantly more Japanese travellers.
2004 was a year of transition and reorganisation for the group.
The main focus of its activities was co-operation in exchanging
· The yen rose from 133 to 139 against the euro during 2004
market views and intelligence.
- this inevitably affected Japanese expenditure during trips
to Europe.
However, the group also keeps a watching brief on the other
principal tourism markets in the Far East. China is one market that
2005 Outlook
is set to grow very quickly: in 2004, the Chinese National Tourism
· Japanese authorities maintain that the economic recovery
Administration opened the way for organised groups of Chinese
is on track and that their reform policies are bearing fruit.
visitors to travel to Europe when it awarded Approved Destination
· Export-oriented, large companies (especially carmakers)
Status (ADS) to most European countries. ETC Japan will work
are doing well, although exports are being hurt by slowing
with ETC
economic growth in US and China.
members in
China to
ETC Japan contact details
· The prospects for sustained growth are being impeded
create a new
ETC Japan
by continued deflation and by the fact that domestic consumption,
Asia strategy
c/o Netherlands Board of Tourism and
the real motor for Japan's economy, is still lagging.
that will help
Conventions
Europe to get
· In general, tourism markets in Europe expect single-digit growth
NK Shinwa Building 5F
the most
for 2005 from Japan. One European airline predicted in a
5-1 Kojimachi
benefit from
Japanese travel trade magazine that there would be 5%
Chiyoda-ku
the ADS
growth to Europe in 2005.
Tokyo 102-0083
agreement
Japan
· Growth in Eastern Europe should be higher, but this is starting
and other
Tel: (+81) 3 3222 1442
from a lower base.
developments
Fax: (+81) 3 3222 1114
in the region.
· Package prices for Europe have risen. While low-end packages
E-mail: avanwell@holland.com
sell well, high-end products struggle.