JAPAN: Japan's Softbank Partners With JTB For New Travel Business

Japan's Softbank joins with JTB for new travel venture

Japan's SoftBank Group Corp is entering the travel business in a big way with a focus on the fast growing inbound Chinese market.

The company has established an inbound online travel agency that will be listed on Alibaba's travel marketplace, Alitrip next month.

SoftBank is a long time investor in Alibaba with a 32% shareholding.

"So far, the so-called 'golden route' for large tour groups centres on major cities like Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto but we plan to cater to the needs of the increasing number of independent travellers," a Softbank spokesperson said.

Softbank said it had collaborated with Japan's largest travel agency JTB Corp to set up the new enterprise.

SoftBank will use JTB's expertise an inventory for hotel and bus bookings.

There has been a dramatic rise in the number of Chinese travellers visiting Japan in recent years, especially since the Japanese Yen has weakened.

This year to September, 3.8 million Chinese tourists have visited Japan compared to 2.4 million for the whole of last year.