Rajesh Mazumder
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In 2024, Japan is rapidly emerging as a popular destination among Spanish travel agents, as reported by RateHawk, a digital B2B platform for hotel, flight, and transfer bookings. From October to December 2024, bookings for accommodations in Japan have surged six times compared to the same quarter in the previous year. This surge aligns with the initiation of thrice-weekly direct flights from Madrid to Tokyo by Iberia, starting October 27. This service had been discontinued since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“At RateHawk, we have been noticing the rising demand for Japanese destinations long before the news about the launch of direct flights.However, we see a sharp increase in hotel bookings immediately after the direct line’s planned launch. The peak demand is witnessed in November, with a record 10-fold growth in bookings compared to the previous year. Remarkably, the average booking window in these bookings is six months, which is well above the average booking window on our platform”, commented Head of Business Development Iberia, Samia Lahlou.
The resurgence of flights not only boosted hotel reservations in Tokyo but also sparked significant increases in other Japanese cities this autumn. Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Takayama, and Kanazawa are among the most sought-after destinations, with Kanazawa, Tokyo, and Kyoto each experiencing a six-fold rise in bookings. Takayama’s bookings have escalated by seven times, while Osaka has recorded the most substantial growth, with bookings multiplying tenfold year-over-year.
“The country has a lot to offer, from its rich cultural heritage, to natural beauties, and a modern urban environment. Due to the well-developed railway network, travelers usually combine visiting several Japanese cities within one trip”, – commented Samia Lahlou.
“We provide travel agents with access to more than 38,000 accommodation options across Japan, in both large metropolitan cities and small towns, thus enabling our partners to meet the needs of any client, whether traveling for business or leisure purposes. Besides standard international hotel chains we offer traditional Japanese inns called “Ryokan” on our platform, allowing travelers to deeply immerse themselves in Japanese culture,” continues Samia Lahlou.
The average daily rate (ADR) for accommodations in Japan during this period stands at €144, marking a 13% reduction from the previous year. Half of these bookings are in 3-star hotels, costing an average of €122 per night, while 4-star hotels make up 20% of bookings at an average rate of €189 per night.
The typical duration of stays is two nights, although longer stays are common in Kyoto and Urayasu, where travelers book five days on average, and in Tokyo, where the average stay is four nights.
Owned by Dubai-based Emerging Travel Group, RateHawk is a pioneering B2B travel booking platform that offers an array of services including hotels, flights, car rentals, and more. It prides itself on delivering competitive rates for various travel services across multiple locations.
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