ANA Strategic Research Institute Co., Ltd. (ARI)—part of the ANA Group—is collaborating with NAVITIME JAPAN and the Expedia Group to introduce an all-inclusive travel plan designed to make it easier for travelers to explore the different regions of Japan.
Japan has many celebrated tourist attractions, and ARI will create a variety of travel plans to showcase the country’s charming, less-traveled regions. These travel plans will include domestic flight tickets in Japan, hotels, activities, and public transportation recommendations to make trips to Japan as seamless and convenient as possible.
“Japan has a rich cultural history, and tourism is an integral part of how we share our treasures with the world,” said Kenji Inaoka, Executive Vice President and COO of ARI. “ARI has been thinking of ways to revitalize the regions of Japan to bring tourists to the less traveled areas. By collaborating with travel companies, ARI is creating a tourist experience that makes expert recommendations easily accessible in a way that benefits first-time travelers and repeats visitors alike.”
Potential visitors can use the travel planning portal at https://www.odysseyjapan.com/expedia/ to view a list of different plans for each region of Japan. Selecting a plan connects travelers to an Expedia Group page allowing them to instantly book Japan domestic flight tickets, accommodation, and activities for the entire trip. After the reservation is made, ARI will send a code to the traveler that they can input into the app provided by NAVITIME JAPAN which will give the user access to transportation tips on how to reach each destination included in the travel plan.
NAVITIME JAPAN’s navigation service plots out each step down to the last detail, such as letting users know when they should walk to a destination or use public transportation. If public transportation is suffering delays, the guide will automatically recalibrate its recommendations to include the quickest available form of transportation. The guide will also include both visual and verbal cues to help reduce potential language barriers or miscommunication during the trip.
As an ambassador of Japanese culture, ARI takes seriously its responsibility to help share all that Japan has to offer. ARI hopes that creating an all-inclusive travel plan will make it easier to explore previously unheralded parts of Japan that tourists have not yet discovered. Combining ANA’s hospitality and service with the expert travel knowledge of Expedia Group and real-time transportation assistance from NAVITIME JAPAN will create a new level of convenience for travelers seeking to chart their own path in Japan.
This is the latest initiative by ANA designed to connect people with Japanese culture and encourage them to go on their own journey of discovery. In 2018 ANA launched its ‘We Are Japan’ creative platform in Europe, designed to create a deeper appreciation of the island nation and everything it has to offer. The platform, which includes content in seven pillars—EAT. DRINK. SEE. STAY. DO. DISCOVER. GO.—reflects ANA’s ambition to use its Japanese spirit and growing network to create treasured memories, extending beyond premium in-flight service to enriched travel experiences both on and off the plane.
The announcement comes as the spotlight continues to shine on Japan, with the nation setting trends and preparing to host major sporting events. This year’s ABTA Travel Trends report ranked Japan as one of the top destinations to visit in 2019, with even more visitors expected to travel for the Rugby World Cup. The country is also looking forward to hosting the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.