Japan’s Second Covid Wave Puts Smaller Travel Agencies in Peril
Photo Credit: Experiences such as visiting a teahouse with geisha performance in Higashi Chaya is a unique Japan experience. Hitotoki
Skift Take
A second wave in Japan puts its tourism members on a joyless rollercoaster ride. Small inbound travel specialists especially are hanging by a thread. Huddling together for strength and inspiration is a good idea.
Japan's small inbound travel agencies are seeking shelter in a newly-formed group as a second Covid-19 emergency state, effective January 8, puts tourism recovery in jeopardy.
Niche travel specialists and small tour and activity players are critical in providing authentic and unique experiences to foreign arrivals. Yet these players have little or no representation, unlike bigger travel agents, hotels and vacation rentals in sector groups such as Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA), Japan Hotel Association, Japan Ryokan and Hotel Association and Japan Association of Vacation Rental. The latter is a relatively new group formed in December 2018 as home-sharing makes inroads into Japan.
Alex Debs, founder of luxury travel designer company Hitotoki, took JATA to task recently for not looking out for the plight of smaller members, of which Hitotoki is one, a move that set in motion the launch of the Hospitality Industry Club of Japan a few weeks ago.
Debs said Japan's Go To T
