Golden Week reservations not increasing as expected

Japan's major travel agencies stated they are not seeing the expected increases in Golden Week reservations (Travel Vision, 06-Apr-2011). Details include:

• Hankyu (HEI): 20% year-on-year reduction in the 24-Apr-2011 to 05-May-2011 period;
• Club Tourism: Although reservations from senior aged customers are slow due to cancellation of tours including from those customers not affected by the earthquake who restrain from travelling, tours with clear objectives such as cruising and visiting ruins in South America are going well;
• JALPAK: As of 23-Mar-2011, reservations for the period from 23-Apr-2011 until 05-May-2011 were down by 46% year-on-year, with the largest number of cancellations for tours out of Tokyo. However, tours to Hawaii from Apr-2011 to Jun-2011, including Golden Week, are going well with more new reservations received than the number of cancellations as of 30-Mar-2011.