Wendy Wu Tours has credited hit BBC travel series Race Across the World for a more than 50% increase in Japan bookings over the past two months.
The operator has added 17 new Japan departures for the autumn season owing to the "incredible demand" generated by the show and launched a new sale with savings of up to £1,000pp on some of its most popular tours.
Savings are available until 1 July on tours of Japan, China, southeast Asia, India and Sri Lanka, as well as other select tours from its worldwide portfolio.
Wendy Wu Tours said the conclusion of Race Across the World saw bookings for Japan alone go up by 52%, with travellers seeking the "convenience and expertise" that comes with guided tours over travelling independently.
It said there was renewed demand too for several other destinations featured in the show, including South Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand.
Gary King, Wendy Wu Tours head of trade sales, said "the allure of Asia is only growing". "We’ve seen a dramatic surge in bookings, particularly for our Japan tours, with a 52% increase over the past eight weeks.
"In response to this demand, we’ve added 17 new departures for the autumn season in Japan, including our flagship tours such as Japan Uncovered and Best of Japan. It’s clear viewers are looking for the security and enriching experiences that our fully-inclusive tours provide.”
Wendy Wu’s Essence of South Korea and Japan tour, meanwhile, is now ranking as one of its best sellers, with a "notable rise" to in late bookings for Japan’s 2025 cherry blossom season, which the operator said was "quickly reaching capacity".