Setting the Scene: Tourism in Japan Blossoms Thanks to TV Series J-Trip Plan

May 31, 2017  | Written by Caroline Ku

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APEX Insight: Feature films and TV series are inspiring audiences to take the show on the road. In this section of the multipart feature, we explore how a TV series has its Southeast Asian viewers acting on their plans for Japan.

J-Trip Plan, a TV series that shows viewers how to experience Japan like a local, has inspired viewers in Southeast Asia to make the leap from “thinking about it” to actually taking that trip.

Through WakuWaku Japan (WWJ), an entertainment channel that distributes Japanese programs to Southeast Asia, SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation and NHK World, the broadcasters of J-Trip Plan, have noticed a surge in travel bookings at major Japanese travel agencies. Demand for sightseeing tours is growing among repeat visitors to Japan. As a result, SKY Perfect is ramping up regional tourism broadcasting to build on the phenomenon.

Each 30-minute episode of J-Trip Plan introduces the audience to the country through an activity, such as cherry blossom viewing in Kyoto, papermaking in Fukuoka Prefecture, biking along the Setouchi Shimanami Kaido Expressway or even exploring the surroundings of Narita and Kansai airports.

SKY Perfect is working with local governments to strategically select upcoming sets for their show.

WWJ broadcasts a variety of Japanese programming such as anime, drama and movies across Southeast Asia, and now SKY Perfect is working with local governments to strategically select upcoming sets for their show: Japanese regions that have direct flights to Indonesia, Myanmar, Singapore and Thailand. Last year, the producers even ramped up distribution to 10 countries, including the United States.

Two out of five travelers from Singapore book their trip on a whim.

With the abundance of low-cost flights in Southeast Asia, travelers can afford to make a booking even hours before takeoff. According to the Asia-Pacific Digital Traveller Report by Criteo, two out of five travelers from Singapore book their trip on a whim. “We were watching a travel series that featured Munich, and my wife happened to have leave to clear, so we made the decision spontaneously,” Alvin Tan, a traveler, told the Strait Times. Normally, last-minute trips are made to regional destinations, but with low-cost carriers now flying to overseas destinations, the decision to book a trip can be left up in the air.

“Setting the Scene” was originally published in the 7.3 June/July issue of APEX Experience magazine.