Cherry blossom season in Japan: Vietnamese tourists rank 5th in spending

Vietnamese travelers start spending early and heavily, with more than 45% of spending occurring on the first day of their trip.

Vietnamese tourists' spending per Visa card used reached 74% compared to Singaporean tourists and surpassed the average spending of tourists from Southeast Asian and East Asian countries.

What do Vietnamese tourists buy when coming to Japan?

The cherry blossom season not only attracts millions of international tourists, but also boosts domestic tourism spending in Japan by up to 50%. VisaNet data from the study was compiled based on anonymous transaction data on tourist spending trends in 17 prefectures in the cherry blossom-blooming region.

The results also show that tourist spending during the cherry blossom season has a strong impact on the Japanese economy, especially when looking at the spending habits and travel trends of tourists throughout the cherry blossom season.

According to data from Visa's Green Shoots Radar study, for Vietnamese travelers, Japan continues to be a favorite destination.

During the 2024 cherry blossom season alone, overall visitor spending per card increased by 22%, especially at department stores, drugstores and high-end jewelry stores. Most of the spending by Vietnamese visitors took place in Tokyo, Osaka, Chiba, Shizuoka and Aichi.

Vietnamese tourists are also said to start spending early and heavily, with more than 45% of their spending during the first few days of their trip. Spending trends also vary depending on the income level of each tourist group from different countries in general.

The group of tourists with conditions spend 20% to 30% of their spending on resort space and gradually shift to spending on shopping experiences in the second half of their travel itinerary.

In contrast, budget-conscious travelers tend to spend more flexibly, focusing on dining and shopping experiences.

"The tourism industry still has a lot of room for growth as 41% of Vietnamese consumers have planned leisure travel in the next 6 months," Visa's report emphasized.

Cashless shopping on the rise thanks to tourists

In a highly "conservative" country like Japan, the trend of using cash is still quite popular.

However, contactless payments in the country are being strongly promoted by tourists in general, with total usage increasing by 14% during the cherry blossom season. Among Vietnamese tourists, contactless transactions increased by 5% during the festival.

This trend reflects the growing demand for seamless payment solutions, driven by the expansion of widespread payment acceptance in core sectors such as restaurants and grocery.

In particular, travelers from Asia-Pacific countries, where contactless payment acceptance systems are well developed, have quickly adapted and used them during their trips.

Ms. Dang Tuyet Dung, Visa Country Manager for Vietnam and Laos, said: "The power of data lies in its ability to turn numbers into insights, driving decision-making and strategic planning.

“Analysis of the impact of cherry blossom season on tourism activity and spending trends highlights how data can help us better understand complex phenomena, identify trends and make predictions.”

According to Visa, data from Visa does not only show current trends. Visa solutions such as Visa Destination Insights can also help tourism businesses and local businesses predict future traveler behavior and provide information for strategic planning.

Through analysis of the impact of cherry blossom season on tourism, Visa equips businesses large and small with valuable insights to optimize services to deliver a seamless travel experience for travelers.

Vietnam and regional tourism are entering a new era, where efficient and secure payment methods play a dual role in meeting the growing needs of consumers throughout their travel journey.

Visa partners with leading companies

In an effort to enrich the travel experience, Visa has partnered with industry leaders such as Vietnam Airlines, Japan Airlines, Agoda and Booking.com to offer special benefits, such as discounts and bonus miles on purchases and bookings.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/du-lich-mua-hoa-anh-dao-nhat-ban-du-khach-viet-dung-thu-5-ve-chi-tieu-20240622151101042.htm