The tourism white paper has been released. Domestic travel spending reached a record high of 25.1 trillion yen, suggesting that post-COVID travel demand is truly returning for many. Notably, the influx of inbound foreign tourists is remarkable, with much of the white paper dedicated to it.
Quotation from “Tourism Situation FY2024 – Tourism Policy FY2025” (Tourism White Paper).
On the other hand, when focusing on overseas travel by Japanese people, or outbound travel, we see a significant decrease. According to “Trends in the Number of Japanese Departures,” approximately 13.01 million Japanese traveled abroad in 2024. This is about a 35% decrease compared to 20.08 million in 2019, before COVID.
The decline is so significant that it’s akin to levels seen around 2003, during the SARS outbreak and Iraq War, when overseas travel drastically dropped. The current situation seems to not merely be “in recovery” but rather “in continuous descent.”
The Absence of “Active Seniors” from a London Perspective
I currently live in London, and the frequency of seeing Japanese tourists has clearly decreased. Changes in their appearances are also noticeable. For instance, there used to be a notable presence of “active seniors,” aged 60-70, traveling freely around Europe after retirement or once child-rearing had settled. However, the seniors I see now seem to be trimming their itineraries and cutting down on food costs just to make the trip viable.
I encountered a group of elderly Japanese women in London, who, amazed by the high prices, shared small supermarket pastries saying, “This is today’s lunch.” It was endearing, yet there was a sense of wistfulness in noting, “They traveled all the way to England yet can only spend this much…”
The Structure of “People Who Don’t Travel”
Quotation from “Tourism Situation FY2024 – Tourism Policy FY2025” (Tourism White Paper).
The “Trends in Accommodation Travel Experience Rate by Age Group” indicates a significant decline in domestic travel experience rates among the elderly. For those aged 70 and above, the rate dropped from 38.6% in 2019 to 30.7% in 2024.
Quotation from “Tourism Situation FY2024 – Tourism Policy FY2025” (Tourism White Paper).
Moreover, when examining the “Top 5 Reasons for Not Engaging in Domestic Accommodation Travel for Tourism/Recreation (All Age Groups),” it is noted that until the 60s, the main reason is “unable to take holidays due to work or other commitments,” whereas for those 70 and above, “health reasons” are the top barrier, followed by “financial constraints.” This makes it easily foreseeable that the hurdles would be significantly higher for overseas travel. In essence, it is evident that even after getting the time, the inability to travel is mainly due to physical constraints.
Of course, “those who can still go” do travel. Some people realize their trips by using redemption tickets or benefits. I often meet Japanese travelers in Europe who say, “I came with miles.” In other words, even those who appear to enjoy free traveling are relying on “supporting mechanisms” to make their journeys possible.
The Silent Middle Class and Questions on Social Design
This situation implies increasing polarization among travelers. Those who can travel, and those who no longer do. The middle ground seemingly falls away. Furthermore, these “non-travelers” are not reflected in the white paper’s statistics. This silent absence itself might be the greatest structural change—a feeling of crisis arises.
Not traveling. Unable to travel. However, if the reasons are “budget” or “system” rather than “desire,” then this is not an individual’s problem but a societal structural issue. Behind the “recovery” graphs depicted in the white paper, there are those falling through the cracks. Isn’t it time to pay attention to their existence?
Notice
This article was generated using automatic translation by GPT-4 API. The translation may not be accurate.
