Developing Products for International Visitors and Non-Skiers

「Inbound visitors totaled 544,000, 23.2% above the previous season’s record of 441,000.」

「Visitor numbers increased substantially as inbound demand, particularly in the Hakuba area, expanded significantly. Inbound visitors reached 282 thousand, 26.3% above the previous season's record of 223 thousand.」

「In addition, sales efforts including various sales activities and promotions brought many domestic and overseas visitors. Inbound visitors reached a record 214 thousand, up 44.2% year on year, driven in part by a substantial increase in inbound visitors, particularly in the Hakuba area.」

「HAKUBA VALLEY Hakuba Happo-One Ski Resort's OAKLEY TERRACE hosted music events every weekend. Inbound visitors reached 304 thousand, 32% above the pre-pandemic 2018-2019 season level of 231 thousand. In addition, initiatives including IWATAKE WHITE PARK at HAKUBA VALLEY Hakuba Iwatake Snow Field, where visitors can enjoy snowy scenery, and the opening of Soup Stock Tokyo, its first location in Nagano Prefecture, provided attractions for tourists who do not ski. As a result, non-skier visitors reached a record 22 thousand, up 51.9% year on year.」

「HAKUBA VALLEY Hakuba Happo-One Ski Resort's OAKLEY TERRACE hosted music events every weekend. Inbound visitors reached 148 thousand, 21% above the pre-pandemic 2018-2019 season level of 122 thousand.」

「This season, in addition to domestic demand, which increased as a result of our efforts, the easing of border restrictions brought more overseas visitors than expected. It was the first season in 3 years in which the slopes returned to a lively atmosphere, and visitor numbers increased significantly from the year-earlier period.」

「Although inbound visitors could not be expected after March 2020 due to border restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the cumulative second quarter reached 89 thousand, recovering to 73.1% of the 2018-2019 season level of 122 thousand.」

「Even without inbound visitors, attendance reached 83.7% of the year-earlier period.」

「Even without inbound visitors, attendance reached 83.7% of the year-earlier period.」

「In addition, as we had invested in measures to address low snowfall at ski resorts with high per-visitor spending, and attracted inbound visitors, average spending increased year on year. As a result, despite a decline in visitor numbers, revenue for the cumulative second quarter increased from the year-earlier period.」

「The number of visitors from Australia and New Zealand to the HAKUBA VALLEY area remained stable, while the number of visitors from Asia increased.」

「The number of visitors from Australia and New Zealand to the HAKUBA VALLEY area remained stable, while the number of visitors from Asia increased. As a result, inbound visitors during the current winter season reached a record 228 thousand, up 8.8% year on year.」

「Inbound visitor numbers exceeded the previous year's level in the nine months ended the second quarter, driven by growth in users through the partnership between EPIC PASS, a global leading ski resort alliance pass, and HAKUBA VALLEY, as well as growth in visitors from Asia, particularly in the Hakuba area.」

「HAKUBA VALLEY, where the group operates 4 ski resorts, entered into a long-term alliance agreement in March this year with Vail Resorts, Inc. of the United States, which sells Epic Pass, a pass for the world's leading ski resort alliance. Beginning with the 2018-2019 season, Epic Pass holders will be able to use HAKUBA VALLEY, which is expected to help increase inbound visitors.」

「The company provided a service enabling winter-sports beginners from China and Southeast Asia to enjoy the ski resorts in snowcats, which was well received.」

「As a result, total visitors across the ski resorts during the current winter season reached 1,623,000, up 9.4% from the previous period. This reflected an increase in operating days compared with the previous season and growth in visitors from overseas, driven by stronger sales activities in Australia, Taiwan, China, and Southeast Asia, with foreign-tourist visitors rising to 156,000, up 17.0% from the previous period.」

「The earlier opening of ski resorts that had invested in measures to address low snowfall, such as artificial snowmaking equipment, the ability to maintain stable snow cover from mid-January onward, and stronger sales activities in Australia, Taiwan, China, and Southeast Asia led to an increase in inbound visitors. As a result, winter-season visitors totaled 1,609,000, up 8.6% year on year.」

「After visitors went to the ski resorts, the company organized optional tours, mainly in areas surrounding ski resorts in Nagano Prefecture, showcasing the appeal of the region in winter and offering experiences of Japanese history and culture in cooperation with local municipalities, thereby seeking to expand spending.」

「During the green season, the company conducted winter-season sales activities with local travel agencies in Australia, Taiwan, China, and Southeast Asian countries, and participated in travel fairs held in those countries together with the local municipalities of each ski resort. It sought to expand its customer base by communicating the appeal of the ski resorts to customers interested in experience-based consumption, including Japan's winter nature and activities.」

「To enable visitors to enjoy Japanese food culture, the company planned tours featuring the abundant seafood of the Sea of Japan in Itoigawa and developed products offering experiences of Japanese culture beyond skiing, including tours involving wearing kimono.」