One of Japan's biggest travel agencies is tipping that domestic travel will return to pre-pandemic levels this summer.

JTB forecasts that between July 15 and August 31, 72-and-a-half million people will take trips around the country with at least one overnight stay. That's on par with the level in 2019.

The prediction is based on surveys, hotel bookings, flight reservations and other economic indicators.

JTB says it expects the average person will spend 40,000 yen, or about 280 dollars, on their trip. That's nearly 10 percent more than in 2019. It's also the highest amount since 1996, when such surveys started.

Growing travel demand, price rises, and higher accommodation fees due to hotel labor shortages are all factors.

A Tokyo-based bus tour company says it expects 60-percent more customers from July to September compared to last year.

Hato Bus says it will increase the number of its day and overnight tours to 140 this month. That's up about 75 percent from a year earlier.