Reservations for Shinkansen bullet trains and domestic flights during the year-end and New Year holidays have recovered from more than 70% to 80% of the level before the spread of infection, and congestion is expected with people spending time in hometowns and resorts.
▼
The peak of the homecoming rush is on
December
29th and 30th for
Shinkansen and
highways. Expected January 2nd and 3rd.
bullet train
According to JR companies, the reservation rate for the Shinkansen during the year-end and New Year holidays is 37.9%, an increase from the previous year, and has recovered to 76%, the level before the spread of infection.
JR companies announced on December 15th the status of Shinkansen reservations for the year-end and New Year holidays from December 28th to January
5th
. The
inbound is expected to be on January 3, and
some trains are already full.
The reservation rate is
▼44.7% for the Tohoku Shinkansen,
▼38.5% for the Joetsu Shinkansen,
▼36.5% for the Tokaido Shinkansen
, ▼36.3% for the Hokuriku Shinkansen, and ▼
32.7
% for the Kyushu Shinkansen.
increase.
The total number of reserved seats was 2.32 million, an increase of 15% compared to the year-end and New Year holidays of the previous year, and recovered to 76% of the level in 2018 before the spread of infection.
JR companies said, "Although the impact of the new coronavirus is still there, it is gradually recovering. We would like you to continue to take precautions against infection, such as wearing masks, and use the railway to return to your hometown." increase.
empty flight
Reservations for domestic flights during the year-end and New Year holidays have recovered to more than 80% of the level before the spread of infection, and international flights have increased fivefold from the previous year due to the relaxation of border measures against the new corona. I'm here.
According to major domestic airlines, about 2.706 million people booked domestic flights during the nine days from December 28 to January 5, 10% compared to the previous year. increasing.
Of these, the combined number of reservations for All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines has recovered to 83% of the level before the spread of infection.
The peak of congestion is expected to be
December 29th for the ▽ downhill
and January 3rd for the upbound.
On the other hand, about 321,000 people made reservations for international flights, a fivefold increase from the previous year as the new corona's border measures were eased.
However, the number of reservations for ANA and Japan Airlines combined is about half compared to before the spread of infection, and reservations for flights connecting to China, where strict border measures continue, are only about 5% to 7%. I think it has an impact.
highway
According to expressway companies, during the eight days of the year-end and New Year holidays from December 28th to January 4th, congestion on the expressways was as
follows
: It is expected that the line will peak on January 2nd and 3rd, and the outbound line will peak on January 2nd.
A particularly long traffic jam on the outbound line at the end of the year, which is the rush to return to hometown, is
▽On the outbound line of the Tomei Expressway, starting near the Hadano Nakai Interchange in Kanagawa Prefecture, the maximum is 45 km around 10:00 am on December 29, and December 30. It is expected to reach
a maximum of 35 km around 10:00 a.m.
on Sunday, and 20 km around 8:00 a.m. on December 29 and 30 on the outbound line of the Higashi-Meihan Expressway, starting near the Kameyama Smart Interchange in Mie Prefecture. I'm here.
On the other hand, especially long traffic jams due to U-turn rushes at the beginning of the year were
on the inbound line on January 2,
▽ Tohoku Expressway around 5:00 pm, up to 35 km near the Kazo Interchange in Saitama Prefecture,
▽ Meishin Expressway Around noon on the road, it is expected to be 25 km starting near the Otsu Interchange, and on the
outbound line,
around 4:00 pm on the Meishin Expressway, 20 km starting near the old Yamashina bus stop in Kyoto City.
On January 3, on the inbound line, it
is expected to be 55 kilometers around 4:00 pm on the Tomei Expressway, starting near the Ayase Smart Interchange in Kanagawa Prefecture.
Expressway companies are calling for avoiding traffic jams by changing the days and times when congestion is expected.
How will you spend New Year's Eve?
In front of Shinjuku Station in Tokyo, I asked how they would spend the New Year holidays.
A man in his 20s said, "Since the restrictions have been eased, I'm thinking of going on a trip to Osaka with my friends at the end of the year. I'd like to take measures to prevent infection, such as conducting tests in advance." was
A woman in her 50s who had a grandchild said, "I want to spend New Year's with my son and his wife at my parents' house in Kanagawa Prefecture. I decided to do it," he said.
A woman in her 20s from Yamagata Prefecture said, "I've become able to go home without worrying about others, so I'm going home this time. I want to take thorough infection control measures, such as being careful at crowded restaurants." was talking
On the other hand, some say that they will spend the year-end and New Year holidays at home, and among them, a man in his 30s said, ``I don't want to go out much because I've gotten used to spending time at home with the new coronavirus. , I'm worried about the eyes around me, so I'm going to refrain from returning home."
People who leave overseas before the year-end and New Year holidays
Before the year-end and New Year holidays, we heard from people departing from Haneda Airport that they were looking forward to going abroad for the first time in a while.
A fourth-year university student who is going sightseeing in Australia with a friend said, "I have the impression that restrictions have been eased, making it easier to enter and leave the country. I'm very happy because I wanted to experience overseas while I was still a student." I was.
A man in his 40s who is planning to go mountain climbing in Argentina said, "It's been three years since I've been abroad. It's the mountaineering season in South America right now, and the new coronavirus is settling down, so I decided to go at this time." was talking
A 17-year-old high school student who is going to London for a two-week homestay said with a smile, "It's my first time going abroad, so I'm really excited. I thought it would be fascinating to spend time in London during the Christmas season, so I decided on this time." was showing
On the other hand, there were also people who were looking forward to reuniting with their families living overseas. I can meet you for the first time," he said happily.
While reservations and inquiries to travel agencies are increasing, there is also a movement to refrain from traveling
As we approach the first year-end and New Year holidays since the measures against the new corona were greatly eased, travel agencies in Tokyo are receiving more reservations and inquiries for tours departing overseas during the year-end and New Year holidays. is.
According to the store of a major travel agency in Yurakucho, Tokyo, popular tourist destinations include classic resort areas such as Hawaii and Guam, as well as nearby tourist destinations such as South Korea, which can be reached in a short period of time.
The major travel agency expects about 150,000 people to travel overseas during the year-end and New Year holidays, up 7.5 times from the previous year.
On the other hand, there are also moves to refrain from traveling due to the weak yen, high prices, and rising airfares, and the company forecasts that the number of people traveling abroad will remain at 18.1% compared to three years ago, which is the level before the corona. is not recovered.
In a questionnaire survey conducted last month targeting more than 1,300 people, when asked if they would travel abroad in the near future,
▼
22.3% said, “I am worried about the international situation and infectious diseases, so I will not travel this year.”
21.8% said they will not do it this year because prices are rising.
This company offers a service that compensates for a cancellation fee of up to 100,000 yen per person if you become infected with the new coronavirus before departing for the booked tour, and an emergency that introduces you to a local hospital if you become infected during the tour. It means that we are preparing a telephone service etc.
Ayano Tanabe of JTB said, "In addition to the soaring travel prices, some people are worried about the cost of staying in the country, so I would like to work on it so that they can travel with peace of mind."
Expert: “The environment will be improved next year, and the number of tourists will gradually increase”
Akiko Kosaka, a senior researcher at the Japan Research Institute, who is familiar with fields such as tourism, commented on the fact that demand for overseas travel has not returned to pre-corona levels, saying, "Fuel prices are rising, there is a sense of anxiety about the future due to rising prices, and the weaker yen. The combination of these and other negative factors has created a considerable headwind.Considering the current situation, I think it's inevitable that growth in demand for overseas travel will be curtailed."
On the other hand, it seems that the desire of consumers to travel abroad has not decreased so much, and there is a movement to resume international flights that have greatly reduced the number of flights due to the impact of the new corona, so I will travel abroad next year. Our analysis suggests that a comfortable environment will be established little by little, and that the number of tourists will gradually increase.
On top of that, ``There is also the aspect that the elderly, who can be said to be lovers of overseas travel, are reluctant due to anxiety about infection. So, I think it's important to create an environment where people can enjoy traveling with peace of mind."