WILLER EXPRESS announced reservation trends for the year-end and New Year holidays (December 22 – January 8, 2024) for its WILLER EXPRESS express bus service, based on data as of November 15.
Bookings are up a strong +48% YoY and have recovered to 100% of pre-Corona (2019) year-to-date bookings. Of all routes, 90% are up YoY, with further growth in demand for early bookings. By route, Tokyo to Okayama/Hiroshima (+85%) is No. 1, Tokyo to Osaka (+71%) No. 2, and Tokyo to Nagano (+63%) No. 3.
The first purpose of use, “Live concert/event” accounted for 41% of the total, with many traveling between major cities such as Nagoya to Tokyo/Osaka and Osaka to Fukuoka. Sightseeing and gourmet food (21%) and returning home/meeting acquaintances and family (19%) came in second and third, respectively, with a high percentage of return travel between major cities and regions, such as Tokyo to Matsue/Hiroshima and Osaka to Niigata.
The male-female ratio of those who made reservations was 3:7. By age, half of both men and women were in their 20s, followed by those in their 40s and 30s. The number of people choosing express buses is increasing not only because of the rising awareness of saving money due to high prices and soaring accommodation rates, but also because of the advantages of “effective use of time” and “convenient departure and arrival times,” as well as for purposes such as guessing activities and solo travel.
The company is running a “Shifting Homeward Travel Support Campaign” that offers discounts for reservations made after mid-January, when the peak travel period for the year-end and New Year holidays has passed.
© Source travel watch