Rakuten Travel Sparks Wanderlust for Japan Adventures with Inaugural On-Site Events in Singapore

- First-ever Singapore events aim to spark excitement for authentic Japanese stays
- Joint promotion with DON DON DONKI Singapore offers special deals for app members

Singapore, April 11, 2024 – Rakuten Group, Inc. today announced that its travel reservation service Rakuten Travel, a leading online travel agency in Japan, hosted its first-ever events for everyday consumers and influencers in Singapore, aiming to attract more Singaporeans to travel to Japan. This initiative aims to capitalize on the growing popularity of Japan as a travel destination, with the number of visitors from Singapore hitting a record high of 591,000 in 2023 – a 20% increase compared to pre-pandemic levels, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.

Jeremy Bek, Global Head of Rakuten Travel, said, “Rakuten Travel recognizes the huge potential in the Singapore market. We are committed to significantly growing our presence by engaging Singaporeans directly and helping them discover unique and authentic Japanese stays through our booking platform. These events mark the launch of our comprehensive engagement strategy for Singapore.”

The events kicked off with a closed-door influencer gathering held on March 27. Close to forty influential guests with a combined reach of nearly 4 million were introduced to Rakuten Travel’s extensive features, including its wide range of travel services and the largest selection of Japanese hotels among travel agencies in Japan.

To further inspire trips to Japan, Rakuten Travel hosted a public ice cream giveaway event on March 28 at Raffles Place. Attendees were treated to matcha and Hokkaido milk soft-serve ice cream against a traditional tea house setup, offering a taste of Japan right in the heart of Singapore’s Central Business District.

Rakuten Travel is a leading online travel agency providing an extensive range of ryokans (Japanese-style inns) and hotels throughout the country via its robust network, made possible through decades-long relationships with accommodation partners. The company is committed to offering a “Japan Quality” experience throughout the entire accommodation booking journey, with unique stay plans including traditional ryokans complete with Japanese meals for a truly authentic experience.

According to Rakuten Travel’s 2023 booking data, Singaporeans ventured to remote destinations in Japan, such as Toyama, Miyazaki, Tokushima and Kumamoto Prefectures. During their visits, many stayed at ryokans featuring natural hot springs and traditional Japanese kaiseki meals. The value per booking was double that of Japanese domestic travelers, reflecting their preference for extended and upscale stays.

This year, Rakuten Travel will partner with local retail and bank partners to offer Singaporeans more exclusive hotel plans and promotions. As part of these efforts, starting April 4, Rakuten Travel has launched a joint promotion with DON DON DONKI Singapore, extending special discounts*¹ to DON DON DONKI app members when booking with Rakuten Travel. In addition, Rakuten members can enjoy an exclusive 5% in-store discount at DON DON DONKI outlets islandwide by presenting their signed-in profile page to the cashier during the payment process. This offer is available until September 30, 2024. 

Rakuten Travel is committed to offering unparalleled value for Rakuten members and will continue to hold events and campaigns to inspire travel to Japan for Singaporeans.

Notes
*1 For more information on the Rakuten Travel joint promotion with DON DON DONKI, please visit https://travel.rakuten.com/contents/sgp/en-us/campaign/donkipromo/202404/

About Rakuten Travel
Rakuten Travel is a leading online travel agency in Japan. Launched in 2001, the service offers Japan’s broadest selection of local travel accommodation listings. With 14 offices in various countries and regions, Rakuten Travel is expanding its international operations and offers support in eight languages: English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Traditional Hong Kong), Korean, Thai and Bahasa Indonesian. It is part of the Rakuten Group, which operates more than 70 businesses spanning e-commerce, fintech, digital content and communications to 1.8 billion members around the world. For more information visit https://travel.rakuten.com.