IntaSect Communications, Inc. (headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Tan Yufeng, President; hereinafter referred to as “IntaSect”), an overseas promotion and inbound support company for China, Taiwan, and other countries, has conducted a survey on the use of Japanese airports among Chinese tourists who have visited Japan in the past. With inbound tourism from China on the road to recovery, including more than 530,000 Chinese visitors to Japan* in April this year, IntaSect conducted a “Survey on the Use of Japanese Airports” targeting Chinese who have traveled to Japan before the summer tourist season. In this news release, we present the results of the survey.

This survey was conducted in June 2024 using the survey function on Wechat, a messenger application provided by Tencent, targeting those living in China who have traveled to Japan (603 respondents in total, of which 346 were eligible for this survey).

*Based on a May 15, 2024 announcement by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)
https://www.jnto.go.jp/statistics/data/20240515_monthly.pdf

<Summary of the findings of this survey>.

• Nearly 80% of Chinese Travelers Gather Information on Japan’s Airport Facilities Before Arriving in Japan
• Train/subway” was the most common mode of transportation from the airport after entering Japan, and the majority of Chinese travelers answered that they did not purchase tickets in advance.
• When departing from Japan, the most common time of arrival at the airport was “more than 60 to 90 minutes” before takeoff, accounting for about half of all respondents.
• More than 90% of Chinese travelers say they “stop” at duty-free stores at airports when returning home
• Information on accommodations near the airport” ranked first in terms of information that people want to know about the airport in advance, while information on standard souvenirs and airport-specific souvenirs from the area also topped the list.

<About the demographics of the respondents

The survey was answered by 603 respondents (39.3 %：237人、女性60.7% males %：237人、女性60.7%:366 %：237人、女性60.7% ) living in Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Chongqing, Beijing, and Tianjin. The age groups were as follows: 3.3 %：20人、20代が56.2% in their teens %：20人、20代が56.2%: 339 in %：20人、20代が56.2%, 31.2 %：188人、40代が7.6% in their 30s %：188人、40代が7.6%: 46 in %：188人、40代が7.6%, 1.3 %：8人、60代が0.3% in their 50s %：8人、60代が0.3%: 2 %：8人、60代が0.3%.

Those who had traveled abroad accounted for 72.1 %：435人（27.9% of the total %：435人（27.9%: 168 had never traveled abroad). Of these, 79.5 %：346人でした。日本旅行経験者のうち、2022年1月以降に日本旅行経験ありが43.6% had traveled to Japan, the target of this survey. Of those who had traveled to Japan %：346人でした。日本旅行経験者のうち、2022年1月以降に日本旅行経験ありが43.6%: 151 had traveled to Japan %：346人でした。日本旅行経験者のうち、2022年1月以降に日本旅行経験ありが43.6% 22, and 56.4%: 195 had not traveled to Japan after January 2022, making nearly half of the respondents having traveled to Japan after-corona.

<Survey at the time of entry into Japan

■ “Do you research information about airport facilities in advance?” (Number of respondents: 346, multiple answers)

%：268人と最も多い結果となりました。8割近くの旅行者が日本の空港にあるさまざまな施設について、調査を行った上で出発していることがわかりました。また、事前に調査はしなかったものの、「出発後にスマホで調べた（日本到着前まで）」と回答した人は16.2% respondents (77.5 %：268人と最も多い結果となりました。8割近くの旅行者が日本の空港にあるさまざまな施設について、調査を行った上で出発していることがわかりました。また、事前に調査はしなかったものの、「出発後にスマホで調べた（日本到着前まで）」と回答した人は16.2%. In %：268人と最も多い結果となりました。8割近くの旅行者が日本の空港にあるさまざまな施設について、調査を行った上で出発していることがわかりました。また、事前に調査はしなかったものの、「出発後にスマホで調べた（日本到着前まで）」と回答した人は16.2%:56 respondents said that they did %：268人と最も多い結果となりました。8割近くの旅行者が日本の空港にあるさまざまな施設について、調査を行った上で出発していることがわかりました。また、事前に調査はしなかったものの、「出発後にスマホで調べた（日本到着前まで）」と回答した人は16.2%, and 19.9%:69 said that they looked things up on their smartphones after arriving at the airport.

28.6 %：99人、「調べなかった」と回答した人は2.9% respondents answered that they checked the information signs in the airport after arriving at the airport %：99人、「調べなかった」と回答した人は2.9%:10 respondents answered that %：99人、「調べなかった」と回答した人は2.9%.

■”Please tell us about the mode of transportation you frequently use from the airport to your next destination” (346 respondents, multiple answers)

Regarding trains and subways, 37.6 %：130人、「空港で購入（事前購入なし）」と回答した人は53.2% that they had already purchased tickets in advance before departure %：130人、「空港で購入（事前購入なし）」と回答した人は53.2%:184 respondents answered that they %：130人、「空港で購入（事前購入なし）」と回答した人は53.2%, indicating that many people use trains and subways.

On the other hand, for limousine buses, 16.5 %：57人、「空港で購入（事前購入なし）」が15.3% “already purchased ticket in advance before departure” %：57人、「空港で購入（事前購入なし）」が15.3%:53 %：57人、「空港で購入（事前購入なし）」が15.3%. For the “train/subway,” more than half of the respondents chose “no advance purchase,” while the ratio was almost 50:50 for those who used the limousine bus.

Another 26.0 %：90人、「知人の車」と回答した人が10.4% cab” %：90人、「知人の車」と回答した人が10.4%: 36 %：90人、「知人の車」と回答した人が10.4%.

<Survey at the time of departure from Japan

■”How long before takeoff do you usually arrive at the airport?” (Number of respondents: 346, single answer)

The most common response was “more than 60 minutes to less than 90 minutes” at 49.1 %：170人でした。次に多かった回答が「90分以上〜120分未満」で26.9% respondents. The %：170人でした。次に多かった回答が「90分以上〜120分未満」で26.9%: 93 respondents. The second most common response was “between 90 and 120 minutes” at 26.9:93, indicating that many passengers arrived at the airport just before the recommended arrival time (2 hours before departure). The check-in deadline set by airlines is 60 minutes before departure, and 3.8% of respondents (13 persons) answered “less than 60 minutes” after the deadline.

After check-in, 20.3%: 70 passengers arrived “more than 120 minutes” before arrival time, which allows them to spend relatively more time using airport facilities.

■”Please tell us about the facilities you stop at both before and after departure from the restricted areas” (346 respondents, single answer per item)

In terms of “duty free store (before departure),” 44.5% %：154人、「時間があれば立ち寄る」と回答した人は40.5% respondents) answered that they “always stop by, %：154人、「時間があれば立ち寄る」と回答した人は40.5% (140 respondents) answered that %：154人、「時間があれば立ち寄る」と回答した人は40.5%,” and 8.4% (29 respondents) answered that they “stop by if I am passing by and interested. More than 90% of Chinese travelers answered that they would stop by duty free shops (before leaving the country).

The same was true for “duty free stores (post-departure/restricted area),” with most respondents indicating that they would “stop by” as they did before departure (4.9%: 17 respondents did not stop by).

On the other hand, less than 20% of respondents answered that they “always stop by” at “other stores,” both before and after departure and in the restricted area, but more than 50% answered that they “stop by if I have time. It can be said that it depends on whether there is enough time to stop by between arrival at the airport and before takeoff.

As for “coffee shops/restaurants (before departure),” many respondents answered that they “stop by. The “always stop by” category was selected by 38.2% %：132人、「時間があれば立ち寄る」は38.4% (133 respondents), and “stop by if I am passing by and am interested” by 13.3% (46 respondents).

In the “coffee shop/restaurant (after departure/restricted area)” category, 27.2 %：94人、「時間があれば立ち寄る」は42.8% respondents “always stop by %：94人、「時間があれば立ち寄る」は42.8%:148 respondents %：94人、「時間があれば立ち寄る」は42.8%,” and 15.4%:53 respondents “stop by if I am passing by and interested.

<Common for entry and exit

■”Please tell us any information you would like to know about the airport in advance.” (Number of respondents: 346, single answer per item)

Information on accommodations near the airport” was the most common response, with 78.0 %：270人が「事前に知りたい」と回答しました。次に多かった回答が「空港と市街地のアクセス情報」で、68.8% of the total %：270人が「事前に知りたい」と回答しました。次に多かった回答が「空港と市街地のアクセス情報」で、68.8% information %：270人が「事前に知りたい」と回答しました。次に多かった回答が「空港と市街地のアクセス情報」で、68.8% (238 respondents) wanting to know this information in advance.

Other %：230人）、「その地域での定番土産」（65.3% information respondents wanted to know in advance included “the latest information on duty-free stores” (66.5, %：230人）、「その地域での定番土産」（65.3%, 226 respondents), “lineup of merchandise stores” and “coupons and discount information for duty-free stores” (both 64.2 %：222人）、「その空港でしか買う事ができない限定お土産」（62.4%, 216 respondents). These were the most common items that respondents wanted to know about in advance.

Commentary by our representative
Deputy General Manager, Overseas Advertising Promotion Group Japan Promotion Planning Office
Masahiro Shimokawa, Deputy Branch Manager, Osaka Branch Office

The survey revealed that many Chinese travelers to Japan research information on the airport and its surrounding facilities before their trip. The information they wanted to know in advance included information on accommodations near the airport and access to the city center, the latest information on duty-free stores, information on souvenirs unique to the area, and other information related to inbound business.

On the other hand, we found that not many travelers arrive at the airport at a time when they can afford to enjoy shopping and dining at the airport when departing from Japan. Therefore, in order to encourage purchasing behavior at airports, information on souvenirs and meal menus unique to the airport should be more actively communicated to visitors to Japan through local SNS and other means, and not only through official announcements. It is also important to have “customers who have visited the airport” share their reviews and impressions online.

■Company Profile
Company Name : IntaSect Communications, Inc.
Representative : Tan Yufeng, President
Location : 2F B-M Bldg. 3-1 Kanda Ogawa-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0052, Japan
Established : November 2000
Business Activities : Overseas promotion and inbound (inbound to Japan) support mainly in mainland China and Taiwan
Cross-border EC for China, Affiliate management, Affiliate site patrol,
System development, etc.
Capital ：98.56 million yen
URL ：https://www.intasect.com/

Established in November 2000. We provide one-stop support for domestic and international web promotions and inbound business for overseas markets, mainly China and Taiwan, based on the four pillars of web marketing in Japan and overseas, comprehensive support for settlement and inbound business, system-related services, and corporate innovation.

Specifically, we provide customer attraction support such as “IntaPay,” a multi-payment service including WeChat Pay and Alipay+, core agency for Baidu advertising, and official general agency in Japan for Mafengwo, the largest travel information site in China. We also provide other services such as cross-border e-commerce support in China, work style reforms such as electronic contracting and business process improvement, healthcare IoT-related R&D, offshore development, Affiliate management services, and eateat, a mobile ordering service for restaurants, etc.