Travel Vision Weekly

In the consolidated interim financial results from November 1, 2008 to April 30, 2009, H.I.S. posted 4,117 million yen in operating income, up 61.6 percent from the previous year, 3,694 million yen in current profit, up 35.8 percent, and 2,350 million yen in net profit, up 46.9 percent, on revenue of 166,251 million yen, down 4.1 percent. The agency could achieve sizable earnings as tours to Korea, though small in unit prices, were brisk in sale and total customers handled during the period saw 14 percent growth to 1,370,000. Moreover, cost trimming efforts on every piece of products have yielded desired results, When confined strictly to travel business, sales were 165,262 million yen (-3.9%) and operating income was 5,960 million yen (+69.1%).

H.I.S. exerted itself to spur overseas travel demand by marketing price-appealing products, cashing in on appreciated yen, reduced fuel surcharge, and distribution of government's handouts. From the tour merchandizing aspect, the agency has releases special tour programs in the "impresso" series, in commemoration of its 10th anniversary, such ones as to make exclusive use of tourist attractions in Europe; meanwhile, it rolled out two new courses in the "Ciao" series to celebrate its 20th anniversary. On the sales front, it has not only started a new website dedicated to the bookings and sales of optional tours, but also installed touch-screen booking terminals to step up user-friendliness. In parallel with these, an internal mission team undertook the job of making the tour brochure contents more intelligible and improving product quality.

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