In this month’s report, we will highlight the popular travel destinations in Hokkaido from the feedback that our office has gotten from visitors and travel agencies that we have encountered at travel fairs our office have participated in, focusing on 3 ASEAN countries: Singapore, Philippines and Indonesia. Additionally, the number of foreign tourists from each country who visited Japan and Hokkaido is as follows.
Inbound tourists to Japan (*1)
Inbound tourists to Hokkaido (*2)
Singapore
616,962
70,100
Philippines
712,925
22,200
Indonesia
463,770
21,000
※１：Based on inbound tourism statistics from Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)
※２：Based on the Hokkaido Tourism Visitor Survey Report
■Singapore
According to JNTO Singapore office, the percentage of FIT (Foreign Independent Travelers) is as high as 95%, with a trend of them gathering information online or via social media, and arranging their own trips. There are also many repeat visitors to Japan, especially to Hokkaido, as its vastness often requires multiple visits to explore.
Notably, these travelers do not limit themselves to Central Hokkaido but explore the entire region. Many are seasoned travelers who take domestic flights from Haneda Airport to local airports in Hokkaido. At a travel expo in August, we have heard several interesting stories, such as “I photographed a wild deer at the Notsuke Peninsula in Winter”, “Can you recommend a hotel on Rishiri Island?”, and “I visit Kikonai because the expressway opened.” It was surprising to see how many travelers were seeking more niche travel destinations in Hokkaido.
As for how they spend their time during their stay, their preferences varied from “I want to drive on wide roads since Singapore is so small”, “I want to visit different hot springs,” “I want to cycle around various areas of Hokkaido,” to “I just want to eat delicious food in Hokkaido all day, every day”
Hokkaido Booth at NATAS Holiday Travel Fair, Singapore
■Philippines
Although there has been an increase in travelers to Honshu due to the addition of flights between Manila and Kansai, many expressed a strong desire to visit Hokkaido at the travel expo held in Manila this February. When we distributed tourism brochures, many people eagerly turned to the winter pages and asked questions such as ‘Where can we see snow?’ and ‘When is the Snow Festival?’ indicating a high level of interest in winter travel. According to local travel agencies, package tours focusing on Central Hokkaido, which require less travel, are popular. These tours often include a one-night stay at a hot spring resort and tend to offer a relaxed sightseeing experience within a relatively small area.
Travel Tour Expo, Hokkaido Presentation, Philippines
■Indonesia
At the travel expo held in Jakarta last month, there were more visitors with experience or plans to travel to Hokkaido than expected, and we provided various tourist information to them. Many attendees seemed interested in Hokkaido due to the anime ‘Golden Kamuy,’ which features Ainu culture, and we had opportunities to introduce ‘Upopoy’ and ‘Akan Lake Ainu Village’ at the expo. Additionally, because many trains in Indonesia are former Japanese models, there was interest in ‘railfanning’ in Hokkaido, with some considering travel plans using the Hokkaido JR Pass. According to local travel agencies, while many people visit Hokkaido for its magnificent natural landscapes, food can be a barrier for Muslim travelers, which often complicates travel plans to Japan.
Hokkaido booth at Japan Travel Fair, Jakarta
■Looking Ahead
Although the level of awareness of Hokkaido varies by country, Hokkaido tourism is a compelling content that attracts many people. We will continue to work on promoting Hokkaido’s charm to expand inbound tourism.
