Decline in Visitor Numbers Due to Tour Bus Accidents

「The number of visitors arriving from within Japan by tour bus declined as students in particular continued to refrain from using such services following the tour bus accident that occurred in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, in January last year. However, the ski resorts that invested in measures to address light snowfall opened earlier than in the previous season, and stable snow coverage was maintained from mid-January onward. In addition, stronger sales efforts in Australia, Taiwan, China and Southeast Asian countries led to an increase in inbound visitors, and winter-season visitors totaled 1,609 thousand, up 8.6% year on year.」

「The tour bus accident that occurred in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, in January last year was expected to reduce the number of visitors arriving from within Japan by tour bus. In addition, foreign tourists, mainly from Australia, whose numbers had been increasing for several years, were expected to avoid skiing and snowboarding in Japan due to the historically warm, low-snow conditions in the previous season. However, efforts to attract domestic customers who did not use bus tours and to increase visitors from Asia proved effective, and winter-season visitors totaled 723 thousand, up 5.6% year on year.」

「The tour bus accident in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, led to a decline in visitors traveling by tour bus.」