On the other hand, there are also negative factors such as a still high level of unemployment and declining incomes of workers. In addition, 2010 will see the continuation of the strong yen, the recovery of corporate earnings, the increase in arrival and departure slots at two airports in the capital sphere and big events including the 2010 Shanghai Expo. As a positive factor, more Japanese are expected to go abroad in May and June of 2010 over the same period of last year, when people reacted strongly to new influenza. These estimations were made based on some presumed factors. The former predicted that the number of Japanese traveling abroad would be 16.6 million and the latter 16.8 million, both of which substantially would exceed that of 2009. Probably the combination of those multiple factors may cause the sluggish overseas tourism.Īt the end of last year, the forecasts of overseas tourism for 2010 were issued by Japan Travel Bureau Foundation and JTB Corp. There is some sound logic behind each factor. Japan is now experiencing the structural shift represented by the growing economic disparities, which include workers’ conditions concerning day-off and the falling birthrate and aging population in society. Other assumed factors are the structural change in society and the subsequent uncertainties over the future.

In this way, the cause of sluggish overseas travel has come to be discussed from an educational point of view. In particular, the young generation shows this tendency so strong that some argue that young people should be educated to appreciate the significance of overseas travel and find the pleasure in it. There are several presumed causes, one of which is that overseas travel is too common in Japan to enhance people’s motivation for going abroad. Overseas tourism remains stagnant in Japan.

The number of valid passports has declined by about four million during five years since 2005įorecast of trends in Japanese overseas tourism for 2010.What is indicated by the number of newly issued passports.Forecast of trends in Japanese overseas tourism for 2010.

Japanese passport renewal application