JATA (Japan Association of Travel Agents), JOPA (Japan Overseas Passenger Ship Association), and JICC (Japan International Cruise Council) launched a dedicated website on September 24 called “Let’s CRUISE 1M (Million) — Let’s Go on a Cruise, 1 Million People!” that compiles cruise information. The main objective is to widely promote the appeal of cruise travel and generate enthusiasm for “going on a cruise” in support of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s goal of “reaching 1 million Japanese cruise travelers by 2030.” Hideo Okubo, Deputy Director of JATA’s Overseas Travel Promotion Department, explained the background behind the website’s launch and future market developments at a regular press conference on October 8.
The launch of new ships and the debut of Disney Cruises have provided a major boost. The number of cruise passengers in Japan reached a record high of 356,000 in 2019, before the pandemic, but plummeted during the COVID-19 crisis. By 2025, that number had recovered to 243,000. Nevertheless, the goal of reaching “1 million”—approximately four times the current figure—has been set against a backdrop of major developments within the cruise industry. For example, in addition to the introduction of new ships such as the “Asuka III,” which debuted in July 2025, and the “Mitsui Ocean Fuji,” set to enter service in December 2024, Japan’s first “Disney Cruise” is also scheduled to launch in fiscal year 2028. Furthermore, growth is expected in “fly-and-cruise” travel as international cruise routes to and from Japan expand and overseas travel makes a full-scale recovery.
© Source travel watch