In Japan's 'random travel' trend, Lady Luck chooses the destination

So-called random trips, in which destinations are determined randomly by lottery or other means, are gaining popularity in Japan. In addition to the thrill of leaving travel plans up to chance, railway operators and airlines making using such strategies are providing the incentive of affordability through discounts. The move is aimed at reviving the demand for travel, which slumped during the COVID-19 crisis. The concept of random trips gained attention after low-cost airline Peach Aviation, under the wing of ANA Holdings, released the “Tabikuji,” in which users buy flight tickets without knowing the destinations, last summer. Japan Airlines has been offering random trips since 2016, when it launched a service in which mileage points can be traded for flights to random locations. Masami Morishita, professor at Toyo University specializing in travel industry trends, said that many people are interested in traveling but find it a hassle to decide where to go. “Random trips are attractive as they narrow down the options to some extent,” Morishita said. Such trips are hoped to spur new tourist demand as they create opportunities to visit locations users may not be knowledgeable of, Morishita also said.<br/>