Okinawa tops four categories in Jalan Travel Research 2012

August 23, 2012 Ryukyu Shimpo

On August 22, the Jalan Research Center, which is affiliated to the travel division of Recruit, a major company in Tokyo, released the results of Jalan Travel Research 2012. It provides a ranking for prefectures in eight categories, including the new category of tourism information services. Okinawa was ranked top in four categories such as that of local hospitality. Okinawa has increased its number of first places to four this year, from two in 2011. It achieved second place in another four categories.

In addition to hospitality, Okinawa came first in the categories for the prefecture that has many attractive local products and souvenirs, for that of having many spots and facilities where adults can enjoy themselves, and for the accessibility and usefulness of information for tourists.

For the category of locations for adults, there was a tie between Chiba and Okinawa, which returned to the top spot for the first time since 2009. Okinawa was placed first and second in all categories, which indicates that it is a very popular area to visit and stay for tourists.

For the prefecture that people like to go on trips using low cost carrier airlines, Okinawa was the highest with 35.6 percent, followed by Kyushu with 28.4 percent and Hokkaido with 28 percent.

In the category for appealing local products, in comparison with other prefectures Okinawa has many local dishes and products such as Okinawa soba and sea grapes. In the category for local hospitality, people answered taxis and drinking spots in addition to hotels and sightseeing locations.

Many people chose downtown areas in the category of spots for adults. In the category for useful tourism information, pamphlets in hotels and the services of staff in accommodation facilities and taxi drivers were cited as being valuable to tourists.

The four categories that Okinawa ranked second in are as follows: a prefecture which has many local delicious foods; many attractive accommodation options; many spots and facilities where children can enjoy themselves; and many spots and facilities where young people can enjoy themselves.

Through the Internet in April, the Jalan Reseach Center surveyed approximately 15800 tourists nationwide about domestic travel in fiscal 2011.

(English translation by T&CT, Lima Tokumori and Mark Ealey)

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