Best1DotCom <6577> specializes in marine technology business, operating the online cruise reservation site 'Best1Cruise', which boasts the industry's number one course selection for cruise travel enthusiasts. The company also operates 'Five Star Cruises' specializing in luxury cruises, and manages the Ebisu Ryokan inn in Kyoto through its subsidiary.
'Best1Cruise' primarily targets individual customers, selling tickets and package tours for overseas and domestic cruises. They also offer various travel products such as air tickets, hotels, transfers, optional tours, etc., catering to families and couples aged 40-60 rather than the senior generation. Following a decrease in Japanese cruise travel due to the pandemic, they have been offering cruises departing from and arriving in Japan for Japanese residents recently.
For the cumulative 3rd quarter of the fiscal year ending July 24, the revenue was 2.023 billion yen, 2.8 times higher than the same period last year, and the operating loss turned into a profit of 43 million yen. The handling volume for the 3rd quarter (February to April) was 772 million yen, 2.5 times the previous year, setting a record for the highest handling volume in the 3rd quarter. Thanks to strong demand in Golden Week, operating profit exceeded 0.1 billion yen in April, the highest ever. Additionally, the number of users and sessions for 'Best1Cruise' increased significantly in April, fueled by various campaigns for Japan-based cruises.
In addition, order bookings have been strong, with the reservation order amount for July reaching 294.336 million yen, the highest on record for July. Reservations have been piling up mainly for MSC Bellissima cruises departing from Tokyo and Okinawa, as well as the 2025 Diamond Princess Japan cruises. Reservations for the two Japanese ships Nippon Maru and Mitsui Ocean Fuji have started, contributing to the increase in order amount. The current fiscal year revenue is expected to be 3,000 - 3,250 million yen, 2.3-2.4 times higher than the previous year, with operating profit expected to be 250-300 million yen compared to 19 million yen in the previous year.
Oriental Land <4661> has decided to launch Disney cruises as a new business domestically, attracting attention in the cruise market. While cruises are perceived as expensive in Japan, most cruises operated worldwide are casual, with Japan accounting for only 0.2% of the population of cruise travelers in the US and UK. Factors contributing to the low number of cruise travelers in Japan include the expensive image and limited availability of cruises departing from Japan. However, Japan-based cruises, led by companies like Oriental Land, are increasing in number, offering more affordable options and potentially expanding the market size rapidly. In this context, Oriental Land plans to further increase the supply of Japan-based cruises, aiming for a growth of 25-35% through market expansion and share increase. Additionally, they are planning to release an online site for domestic travel reservations and expand their travel technology business, along with venturing into financial technology to plan for overall company growth strategies. As the company's performance is expected to grow significantly, it is worth paying attention to their developments amidst the expanding market environment.