While Okinawa is often called the Hawaii of Japan, a changing Asian travelscape driven by low-cost airline carriers is seeing the resort destination attract a rising number of regional tourists.

Last year, arrivals hit 9.84 million which is now elevating the market to the likes Asia’s twin icons’ Bali and Phuket.

Summing up the current shift in trends is C9 Hotelworks new Okinawa Hotel Market Review with key catalysts of change being rising airlift, visa exemptions for a number of Asian countries including Thailand and favorable currency exchange rates to the Japanese yen.

International airlift is delivering more and more overseas travelers, in 2018 domestic routes supplied 71% of the visitors to the destination. Good news this year is that traction has remained strong as year-to-date arrivals through May registered 4.6% growth. Key overseas markets are South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Mainland China and the United States.

Market-wide occupancy for hotels in the latest available data was 64% with an average accommodation spend per person, per day registered at approximately USD218. With over 36,000 hotel and ryokan keys, the current pipeline is showing 5,295 keys under development.

Key incoming brands reflect more global brands including Hilton and Four Seasons. The latter is being developed by Malaysia’s Berjaya Group, fresh from an extremely successful project in Kyoto. Berjaya is again set to leverage the Four Seasons brand on a hotel residence component of the project.

Despite high development costs given pressure from the upcoming run up to the Olympics, Okinawa’s resort trajectory remains strongly positive given the current expansion at Naha Airport.

With low interest rates in a stable marketplace, developers are increasingly looking to the both Okinawa and the outer islands with rising interest, as the destination is poised to play on a broader global stage.

Download C9 Hotelworks Okinawa Hotel Market Review

C9 Hotelworks is an internationally recognized consulting firm with extensive experience in the Asia Pacific region. Its core business focus includes: Hotel and Resort Development Asset Management / Ownership Representation Project Feasibility and Analysis Key competencies include international hotel operator search, selection and contract negotiation, mixed use hotel and residential planning and operation reviews. A wide range of both institutional and private developers and a comprehensive portfolio of completed projects give C9 the skill set and background to focus on key issues, evaluate complex ones and assist clients in achieving solid results. Based in Phuket, Thailand and led by Managing Director Bill Barnett, who has 28 years of experience in Asia Pacific, the firm is well positioned to serve an increasingly demanding marketplace.

Bill Barnett Managing Director, C9 Hotelworks Company Limited 9 Lagoon Road, Cherngtalay, Thalang, Phuket, 83110, Thailand (Office located at the entrance of Laguna Phuket) T: +66 (0)76 271 535 / F: +66 (0)76 271 536 info@c9hotelworks.com / www.c9hotelworks.com