More people will take a trip during the coming Golden Week holiday than last year, but the average travel expenditure will drop, a recent survey conducted by Japan Travel Bureau indicates.
This year, the annual holiday season covers 11 days, including six holidays, starting from April 26 and ending May 6. The number of people who plan to travel domestically and abroad totals 20.55 million, up 4.5 percent from last year's 19.67 million.
However, the average travel cost per person is estimated at 43,570 yen, 1,510 yen less than the 45,080 yen last year and reflecting a continued drop in spending for the fifth year, according to JTB. The average length of vacations has also declined to three days, down 0.2 days from last year.
The trend toward shorter and cheaper trips is due in part to this year's Golden Week being split by working days, JTB said. Despite promotional efforts by travel agencies, such as cutting package tour prices, travelers tend to avoid the peak season of the year, a trend continued from last year, JTB pointed out.