Domestic cruises have resumed in Japan after a lengthy hiatus due to the pandemic, providing a boost to the travel industry and hope for the return of international cruises in the longer-term.
Two Japanese ships have completed short cruises to nearby ports in recent weeks. Both were operated under limited capacity and strict new policies for passengers and crew to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Mitsui OSK Passenger Lines’ Nippon Maru sailed from Niihama in Ehime Prefecture to Sasebo in Nagasaki Prefecture, where passengers disembarked to visit tourist spots, including Huis Ten Bosch theme park. The Asuka II operated by NYK Cruises, meanwhile, undertook a four-day trip from Yokohama in Kanagawa Prefecture to Shimizu in Shizuoka Prefecture.
The resumption follows the cruise companies’ successful implementation of new infection prevention guidelines laid out by the Japan Oceangoing Passenger Ship Association and the Ports & Harbors Association of Japan in September. These measures require passengers’ health conditions and travel history in the two weeks prior to boarding to be checked. Liners also need to ensure sufficient distancing among passengers and the use of face masks and disinfectants.
The successful cruises are expected to spark a resurgence in the domestic cruise market following the crisis that engulfed cruising in February with the widespread coronavirus outbreaks on the Diamond Princess in Yokohama. Attractions, facilities, shops and eateries in port cities are also expected to see an uptick in sales from shore excursions.
Alongside the development, the Tokyo International Cruise Terminal was opened in September. Capable of accommodating the world’s largest cruise ships weighing more than 200,000 tons, it will act as a gateway for international tourists, which totalled 2.2 million in 2019, according to Statista.
Still, even when international cruises resume, Heather Hopkins Clement, co-founder of private guide service Cruise Port Navigation, predicts autumn 2021 will be the earliest she can see a return to guiding international arrivals. Before that, she added, “passengers will most likely be required to take only the ship’s tours to maintain a travel safety ‘bubble’ until we get past the coronavirus”.
Preferred Hotel Group has launched a new sustainable tourism brand, Beyond Green, in line with the company’s vision to build a better and brighter future for travel while protecting the planet for future generations.
The brand launch comes after Preferred’s acquisition of Beyond Green Travel – which is founded by ecotourism pioneer and global sustainability expert Costas Christ – in February 2020.
The hospitality brand debuts with a global portfolio of 24 founding member hotels, resorts, and lodges that exemplify sustainable tourism leadership.
To qualify for Beyond Green membership, a property must demonstrate leadership in the three key pillars of sustainable tourism: environmentally friendly practices that go beyond the basics, protection of natural and cultural heritage, and contributing to the social and economic wellbeing of local communities. They must also show progress in meeting more than 50 sustainability indicators that align with global sustainable tourism standards and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Lindsey Ueberroth, CEO of Preferred Hotel Group, said: “Never before has there been a greater need to promote a kinder and gentler way to explore our beautiful, yet fragile planet. Driven by our brand promise, Believe in Travel, which guides every decision we make as a company, we believe that now is the time to go big and be bold as we look to the future of travel.”
Added Christ: “While there may be a tendency to think of sustainability as just the latest travel buzzword, its roots are long and deep. What we are witnessing is an evolution of travel, not a passing trend.
“Beyond Green is about reconnecting with our common humanity and understanding that the diversity of our cultures and different ways of life are what create the rich fabric that makes travel so enjoyable and fascinating. In that same context, nature brings inspiration and renewal to our lives. Sustainable tourism is not about giving something up, it is about gaining something more – a great vacation that is also a force for good.”
The Beyond Green platform will support the needs of its member properties by providing global connectivity, distribution technology, marketing, sales, quality assurance, branding, and sustainability solutions, as well as access to participate in I Prefer Hotel Rewards, Preferred’s loyalty programme.
Beyond Green will also enhance visibility for its global portfolio and champion sustainability storytelling through its brand website, StayBeyondGreen.com, which has soft launched ahead of the brand’s official consumer debut in 1Q2021. Beyond Green member properties will also be bookable on a common GDS chain code, to be announced in early 2021.