TOKYO, June 10, 2011 - (ACN Newswire) - H.I.S. Co., Ltd. (TSE1: 9603), a leading travel and airline ticket agency, has announced results for the first half ended April 30, 2011. Consolidated net sales increased 14.1% year-on-year to 175,923 million yen, consolidated operating income rose 44.6% to 3,415 million yen, ordinary income rose 117.7% year-on-year to 4,343 million yen and net income also rose 146.0% year-on-year to 4,571 million yen.
Within the travel industry, demand for overseas travel has been on an uptrend, supported by the expansion of international routes from Haneda Airport in October 2010 and the continuing rise in the yen. However, according to the Japan National Tourist Organization (JNTO), the (estimated) number of Japanese departing the country from November 2010 through April 2011 is expected to have fallen by 0.4% on the previous year to around 7,855,000 people, a decrease of approximately 35,000 people due to the Great East Japan Earthquake.
Amid this business environment, the Group undertook various measures, working to improve the safety, security, and quality of products in the core travel segment.
- Travel business
As for initiatives in the area of online travel sales, the company's homepage underwent a complete renewal in December 2010. The aim of the renewal was to further improve the usability of the site by analyzing the opinions of customers that have used it in the past. In response to the non-Japanese market, a new Chinese website for online hotel reservations worldwide called "Qu-Dujia"(Going for Vacation) was launched in November 2010. Users of the site can choose to make payment by Alipay, China's largest domestic online settlement service, or credit card, making the reservation even easier for Chinese customers. The Group also focused on improving the convenience of making reservations for domestic accommodations, such as enhancing the "Domestic hotels" search site, which is jointly operated by the 3 leading companies of major hotel websites, and newly opening a mobile search site (February 2011). The automatic reservation and information service functions for smartphones were also enhanced and online travel sales were strong in general.
In corporate and group travel, an area the Group is strengthening, the active development of business continued, including the relocation and expansion of branches specializing in the handling of the travel needs of government offices, the opening of new branches for corporate customers (in Shinagawa, Tokyo, and Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture), and the renovation of branches (Okayama Prefecture). A dedicated reservation system for corporate customers also went into full operation in December 2010. These measures steadily increased the handling of corporate and group travel business. However, corporate travel and group tours were the most affected by the earthquake, as corporate customers cut back on business trips, but demand has been recovering in the second half of the fiscal year.
As for sales channels, the Group instituted a review of its sales system to enable business to be conducted efficiently, including the continued reconfiguration of branches and the absorption/merger of travel subsidiaries and the transfer of specialized departments to subsidiaries. In addition, it also re-evaluated its product distribution system and further strengthened its sales system by opening a new Avanti & Oasis branch in Ikebukuro, Tokyo that deals specifically in overseas weddings, a business that requires detailed consultations, and a branch that operates 24 hours a day in Shinjuku, Tokyo to satisfy customer needs.
As for product development, the Group worked to generate travel demand by focusing on the creation and sales of new overseas travel products that make use of Haneda Airport's international routes and low-cost carriers that have recently entered into service. The Group also moved forward with various efforts to enable it to provide unique travel products, such as package tours using Business Air for exclusive sales of airline tickets, an airline specializing in Thai charter flights that began service from March this year.
Turning to business expansion overseas, the Group continued to expand its sales network, opening a branch in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in April, the first branch in South America. The Group also strengthened direct sales from overseas branches, selling optional tours via the Internet to Japanese customers and was able to steadily increase the number of customers taking advantage of the service. Furthermore, centered on Asia, the Group continued to fortify services for out-bound/in-bound customers between overseas branches and services that target non-Japanese customers providing overseas travel with local departure.
As a result of the various measures discussed above and despite the effect of travel cancellations due to the Great East Japan Earthquake, the travel business was able to maintain the number of passengers traveling abroad in the period from November 1, 2010, to April 30, 2011, at the same level in the year-earlier period. This, coupled with an increase in average customer spending on travel products, resulted in sales of 169,048 million yen. As for earnings, contributions from an improvement in the cost ratio stemming from the end of a long-term forward foreign currency contract that remained in the previous period, progress on profit management instituted from during the contract period, and an emphasis on production efficiency in business operations resulted in operating income of 3,908 million yen.
As for the impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake, there were partial interruptions to operations because of damage to branches in the Tohoku region, travel cancellations and cutbacks in business trips, and reduced travel arrangements from overseas. With the exception of the Fukushima branch in Fukushima Prefecture, all branches have resumed operations. The group also took what steps it could as a travel company to support the disaster area. These include a campaign called "Heart in the Bottle" in which a plea is made to Japanese returning from abroad to bring back mineral water bottles, which are collected and delivered directly to the disaster area along with batteries and other life necessities; the donation of a portion of income from travel products reserved up through April 30; and the announcement of a "Disaster victim support plan (overseas tour)" for everyone in the disaster area.
- Hotel business
For the hotel business, efforts to improve customer satisfaction and profitability of the three hotels the Group operates (the Gold Coast and Brisbane, Australia, and Sapporo) resulted in sales of 1,213 million yen and operating profit of 57 million yen.
- Theme park business
HUIS TEN BOSCH Co., Ltd., which operates the HUIS TEN BOSCH theme park, added seasonal entertainment and events, such as "Gardening World Cup 2010 Nagasaki" that opened in October 2010 and "Kingdom of Light 2010" that opened in November 2010. These carefully-crafted events were well received by visitors and contributed to a significant increase in the number of people visiting the park. As a result, the company recorded sales of 5,814 million yen and an operating income of 248 million yen, its first operating income for a fiscal first half.
As a result, net sales for the period increased 14.1% year on year to 175,923 million and operating income rose 44.6% year on year to 3,415 million yen. Interest income and other non-operating income boosted ordinary income to 4,343 million yen (117.7% increase compared to the previous year).The sale of some investment securities at the end of December 2010 generated a gain on sale of investment securities of 3,181 million yen and resulted in net income of 4,571 million yen (146.0% increase compared to the previous year).
Consolidated Financial Results for the First Half Ended April 30, 2011
Operating Results (millions of yen)
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Ended April 30, 2011 % 2010 %
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Net Sales 175,923 14.1 154,151 (7.3)
Operating Income 3,415 44.6 2,362 (42.6)
Ordinary Income 4,343 117.7 1,994 (46.0)
Net Income 4,571 146.0 1,857 (20.9)
Net Income/Share (Yen) 140.97 57.30
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Consolidated Financial Position
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As of April 30, 2011 10/31/2010
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Total Assets 119,643 120,555
Net Assets 60,876 57,484
Shlders' Eqty Ratio (%) 49.0 46.0
Shlders' Eqty/share (Yen) 1,807.61 1,709.44
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Consolidated Cash Flows (CF)
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Ended April 30, 2011 2010
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CF from Operating Activities (1,811) 3,242
CF from Investing Activities 108 1,804
CF from Financing Activities (1,822) (1,091)
Cash and Cash Equiv / Period End 42,819 38,477
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Dividends (yen)
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Year Ended 2011 (Forecast) 2010
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24.00 24.00
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Outlook for the Full Year (millions of yen)
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Year Ending October 31, 2011 %
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Net Sales 409,000 17.5
Operating Income 7,400 17.9
Ordinary Income 9,000 79.3
Net Income 7,000 106.8
Net Income/Share (Yen) 215.87
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Outlook for the Full Year
As for the Japanese economy going forward, there are concerns it will temporarily stall due to a cool-off in consumer sentiment as a result of the uncertain outlook, including the dampening effect of the earthquake on production activity and power usage restrictions stemming from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident.
In the travel industry, it is thought that demand for overseas travel will be greatly affected by the outlook for the Japanese economy, but because of the continuing strength of the yen, the expansion of international routes from Haneda Airport, and moves by companies to extend summer holidays, we do not anticipate a significant decline in demand, a view that is supported by recent trends.
In this business environment, the Group will strengthen operations in the core travel business, while appealing through aggressive advertising campaigns the unique strengths of the company (quality control system, exclusive personnel system, overseas support system, competitive pricing, and broad product lineup), and strive to further improve product quality and services and undertake various measures to provide a safe and enjoyable travel experience to even more customers. Furthermore, the Group will organize a system that can flexibly respond to demand trends.
- Travel business
In terms of product development, in addition to price superiority in airline ticket sales, the Group continues to appeal on its unique value-added and originality through such means as enhancing its travel arrangement capabilities and overseas support system, improving the website for online airline ticket reservations, and developing a points-accumulation service that includes shopping at overseas travel destinations (duty-free shop in Seoul, Korea). As for package tour sales, the Group will develop price conscious products for its Ciao line, the Group's main product line, expand its added-value Ciaopresso and impresso (brand of package tours that include a tour guide) lines of products, and strive to increase product quality. The Group is also actively developing charter flights (Thailand's Business Air, Italy's Meridiana Fly) to be able to reliably provide products that satisfy customers during the busy summer travel season.
In regards to sales channels, branches mainly within the power supply domains of Tokyo Electric Power and Tohoku Electric Power will conduct operations keeping in mind the need to conserve energy, while at the same time ensuring no loss of convenience to customers. The function of each sales channel, be it branches, call centers, or the automatic reservation system via PC and mobile phone, will also be clarified, and a review of product distribution systems by product function is moving ahead with an eye to improve productivity and efficiency. The reconfiguration of the branch network from the standpoint of efficient operations is also ongoing.
In regards to online sales, the Group will strengthen the business as an important sales and marketing channel. The Group will increase the number of visitors to its website and rate of repeat use by expanding the number of products reserved on the online system via a computer or mobile phone and creating an easier-to-use system that takes customer convenience into consideration in order to meet the diverse needs of customers. We have also been working to strengthen communications with customers that actively use social media. The Group will also strive to improve its name recognition overseas by launching travel sites that overseas customers can also use.
As for corporate travel, although business trips were cut back following the earthquake, there are signs demand is beginning to recover. The Group continues to increase the number of branches in regional areas in order to provide services even more finely tuned to the needs of local areas and strengthen capabilities to attract large corporate and government office customers, along with other potential customers which are seen as a new source of demand. In addition, now that the Group has been certified as the official travel agency of the Japanese Olympic Committee for the 2012 London Olympics, efforts are being devoted to the creation and sale of related products. As for group tours, the Group has been working to improve efficiency and profitability while reinforcing the sales system to win orders for large travel programs. Looking ahead, the Group is actively expanding the number of branches dedicated to group travel with a view to expanding the scale of this business, and is also focusing on the training of personnel to meet staffing needs.
Turning to business expansion overseas, the Group continued to open offices in new countries and regions. It is also focusing on services for out-bound/in-bound customers between overseas branches. Toward this end, the number of branches in cities in which the Group already has a presence is being increased, the customer handling system is being beefed-up to accept customers not only from Japan but all countries, and the hotel room purchasing function is being enhanced. Steps such as these are accelerating the Group's global business expansion.
- Hotel business
In the hotel business, the Group will strive to improve customer satisfaction and profitability of its two hotels located on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane, Australia, and the Watermark Sapporo. The Group is also focusing on human resource development and will establish a system to provide pleasant lodging services. This summer, Watermark Hotel Nagasaki HUIS TEN BOSCH, which provides services in English as the common language, located within the HUIS TEN BOSCH theme park is scheduled to open, and a system that can provide customers with comfortable hotel services is being prepared.
- Theme park business
HUIS TEN BOSCH Co., Ltd. has been pushing ahead with various new attempts to create imaginative entertainment and events each season, including the amusement attraction ONE PIECE "Thousand Sunny" pirate ship in HUIS TEN BOSCH and the motion-sensation video attraction 5D MIRACLE TOUR that opened in April, and the HUIS TEN BOSCH "Summer Kingdom" that is scheduled to be held from July 16, 2011. In response to the sharp drop-off in overseas visitors to the theme park following the earthquake (although that traffic is now gradually recovering), HUIS TEN BOSCH is stepping up marketing activities in Japan, while forming tie-ups with domestic travel companies. At the same time, the company is also focusing on bringing visitors to Japan by collaborating with overseas branches, and it is making preparations to launch a cruise ship service on the Nagasaki-Shanghai route planned for 2012. The company aims to create a theme park that raises the profile of the Group and continues to provide satisfaction and support for everyone.
Contact:
H.I.S. Co., Ltd.
Manabu Shimizu
Corporate Planning Division
Tel: +81-3-5908-2070
Fax: +81-3-5908-2423
Email: tp-shimizu@his-world.co.jp
Topic: Earnings
Source: H.I.S. Co., Ltd.
Sectors: Travel & Tourism
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