Avanti Destinations & Japan National Tourist Org Unveil New Travel Advisor Tools
by Sarah Milner
Cherry Blossoms in Fukushima, Japan. Photo: Avanti Destinations / Japan National Tourism Organization
Avanti Destinations has partnered with the Japan National Tourist Organization (JNTO) on new tools to help travel advisors sell destinations outside the “Golden Route,” Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.
With Osaka hosting the World Expo from April 13 to Oct. 13, 2025, Japan’s Golden Route will be as busy as ever. Avanti’s new “Beyond the Golden Route” tools can help advisors to create independent foreign travel (FIT) itineraries avoiding the country’s most heavily-touristed areas.
Japan is Avanti’s top-selling destination outside of Europe for FIT. Currently, the tour operator offers 17 alternative destinations in the country outside the Golden Route, with more than 170 hotels, over 80 tours and experiences, and 13 vacation packages, including the recently added Gotta Go to Nagano and Ultimate Japan itineraries.
“The objective of this campaign is to go beyond those three most popular cities and help clients discover one or more of the less-traveled, less-touristed places that can provide a more relaxing and authentic experience,” said Paul Barry, Avanti’s CEO.
The new Beyond the Golden Route tools include a 50-page e-brochure, “Japan: A Word Apart,” a new microsite for Japan, and a recorded webinar. Advisors will find information on a wide range of experiences to match client preferences—from authentic culinary workshops, to unique museum visits, to private cycling tours.
“Japan has been our best-selling Asian country for several years, and because of its popularity, we urge advisors to book as early as possible at least five or six months ahead of travel,” added Barry.
Avanti, which works exclusively with travel advisors, offers both fully customized FIT and new fixed-price vacation packages. For more information, log onto Avanti’s travel agent portal https://book.avantidestinations.com or call 1-800-422-5053 to speak with an expert travel specialist.

