Japanese tourists in Piazza Spagna, Rome Photo: Jorge Royan
At a time when there are so many apps for instant and last-minute booking, it will probably come as a surprise to many that there are travelers (I'm one) who like to book plans way in advance. And nobody, it seems, likes it more than Japanese travelers.
A study published in JapanToday indicates that 4 out of 5 Japanese travelers have their bookings at least two months in advance, and 57% are all booked more than three months out. The survey included 500 respondents who had made their own reservations for international leisure travel. For popular destinations, such as Hawaii, a quarter had made reservations seven months ahead.
Interestingly, while most of the travelers used the internet for their research (39% used only the internet and 34% used it but not exclusively), only about 20% booked their travel with online agencies. 54% went to brick-and-mortar agents for the final purchase. Presumably the other quarter purchased directly from carriers and hotels. The favorite destinations, by the way: Taiwan, Hawaii and Korea.
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