Kathryn Wortley

3 weeks ago | ttgasia.com | Kathryn Wortley

Travel stakeholders in Japan are stepping up efforts to encourage overseas travel amid the sluggish recovery of the market, which has rebounded to only 65 per cent of the pre-pandemic level. Japanese outbound travellers totalled 13.01 million in 2024, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization, up from 9.62 million in 2023 but far short of the 20.08 million in 2019.

4 weeks ago | ttgasia.com | Kathryn Wortley

More Japanese travellers will make overseas trips during the country’s extended holiday period this spring, aided by the ongoing recovery of international flights, increased incomes among some segments, and campaigns to stimulate demand, according to research by Japan’s largest travel agent. Based on its survey of 1,846 people, JTB Corporation estimates 550,000 people will travel abroad between April 25 and May 7, also known as Golden Week, equating to a 10 per cent rise year-on-year.

4 weeks ago | ttgasia.com | Kathryn Wortley

One year on since the Japanese speed rail arrived in Fukui prefecture, the latter has been building on its growing tourism ecosystem with new subsidies and tours for international visitors. The Hokuriku Shinkansen was extended 125km along the Sea of Japan coast from Kanazawa, Ishikawa prefecture to Tsuruga, Fukui prefecture in March 2024, improving travel access and shortening travel time from Tokyo to about three hours.

1 month ago | ttgasia.com | Kathryn Wortley

What sparked your interest in the sand dunes? About 40 years ago, I came to visit a friend in Tottori and we went to see the sand dunes. It’s an image I will never forget. Since then, the idea of building a hotel there has always been in the back of my mind. When I joined this company in 2018, I had an opportunity to work with a developer who was looking for some sites in Tottori. I found a site near the sand dunes that was owned by the city, joined the bid and secured the land.

1 month ago | ttgmice.com | Kathryn Wortley

Work begins this month on a new large-scale commercial complex at Fukuoka Airport in northern Kyushu, part of the ongoing expansion of the hub amid an increase in passengers. Fukuoka is Japan’s fourth busiest airport, handling 25 million passengers in fiscal 2023, following Haneda, Narita, and Kansai, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. The development follows the opening of a second runway at the airport in March to ease congestion.