show report Visit Japan Travel Mart
VISIT JAPAN T RAV E L MA RT 2012
The annual Visit Japan Travel Mart took place in Yokohama last November. Andy Hoskins reports
VJTM showcases the country
THE annual Visit Japan Travel Mart returned to Yokohama in 2012 and attracted around 300 buyers from tour operators around the world and 300 suppliers from across the Japanese tourism industry. “In addition to our excellent tourism
product – as shown by our sellers – Japan has fantastic culture, landscapes and food. At the JNTO we strive to disseminate this information to tourists abroad and promote global awareness of Japan,” said Ryoichi Matsuyama, President of the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO). Eighteen different pre-show fam trips
were offered to VJTM participants – Clive Buckingham of tour operator JTB UK joined a four-day trip to Kyushu, the most southerly of Japan’s four main islands. “It’s quite a journey from the main cities
of Tokyo and Osaka but Nagasaki is definitely worth it,” he says. “The city stayed open for business for import and export during the 16th-19th centuries when the rest of the country was closed to foreigners so it has a long history of international trade and influence.” He continues, “Add to that the hilly
terrain of much of the city, the old- fashioned trams, and the moving monuments to the atomic bombing of August 1945, and it's definitely a city worth visiting.”
Buckingham says the show itself was an
opportunity to make new contacts and gather information about new products, highlighting skiing and bicycle tours of Kyoto as two areas he’s looking to develop.
www.jnto.go.jp
“The JNTO provides lots of practical information on our website showing how easy it is to enjoy Japan on a budget”
Japan aiming to double up IN BRIEF
A ‘MEET the New Japan’ campaign runs until the end of March in Japan’s Tokyo and Kansai regions, giving visitors the chance to benefit from a range of discounts and special offers by showing their passport at participating shops, restaurants and attractions.
www.meet-j.jp
A NEW smartphone app is now available for visitors to the city of Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido in northern Japan. The free Sapporo Info app is available for the iPhone, iPad and Android phones and includes useful tourist information, sightseeing maps and discount coupons for local sights and services.
www.welcome.city.sapporo.jp
THE Tokyo Sky Tree opened last May,
JAPANESE tourism authorities are aiming to double international visitor numbers by 2016 and the UK is among the countries being targeted. Visitor numbers totalled around nine million last year but, following the launch of a new five-year tourism plan in 2012, a goal of 18 million visitors in 2016 has been set. “It’s rather ambitious, but it’s definitely reachable,” said Shuichi Kameyama, Director of the International Tourism Promotion Division at the Japan Tourism Agency. “Tourism is considered one of the engines of the Japanese economy, particularly in the regions, but we need to diversify our markets.” The UK is one of 13 secondary focus
markets around the world which will be targeted with a range of more diverse promotional messages. Kameyama said that research to define
Japan’s universal attractions for a promotional video revealed that food, culture, history and technology were key to the country’s overseas appeal, but that “these can be said of anywhere. One of the findings is that a core attraction is the Japanese people themselves.” Another message that the Japan
32 January 2013 •
www.sellinglonghaul.com
National Tourism Organisation is keen to convey is the country’s affordability – the perceived high cost of travelling in Japan is often a barrier to selling the country. “The JNTO provides lots of practical
information on our website showing how easy it is to enjoy Japan on a budget,” says Mamoru Kobori, JNTO’s Executive Director of Marketing and Promotion. Over 50 downloadable guides offer advice on how to enjoy Japan for free or on a tight budget. The most frequently downloaded are Tokyo Walks, Kyoto Walks and Japan for Free. “Our message to the public is not to
worry too much about the cost of visiting Japan,” said Kobori, who described the UK market as ‘encouraging’. “The UK is recovering well,” he said, “and we now also have a limited but enthusiastic UK market for wintersports in Japan, already popular with Australians.” Kobori also said the roll-out of free wifi at airports and train stations across the country is being prioritised to help tourists find their way round more easily, while regional governments are working hard to provide English signage across 300 to 400 major tourist spots.
www.jnto.go.jp
becoming the tallest free-standing tower in the world. The 634metre-high building has observation decks at 450 and 350metres (with views of up to 70kms) and, on ground level, Skytree Town is comprised of shopping centres, restaurants, an aquarium and theatre.
www.tokyo-skytree.jp/en
MY Tokyo Guide has launched a
three-day cycling tour through the islands of Japan’s Seto Inland Sea. The 70km Shimanami Kaido route – much on a dedicated cycle path – includes a stay at a traditional ryokan, plus visits to hot springs and ancient shrines. Agents' commission is 10%.
www.mytokyoguide.com
A LUXURY train journey is due to be launched in Kyushu by the year’s end. The Seven Stars ‘cruise train’ will operate one and three-night tours of the island exploring its natural beauty, hot springs, culture and historic sites. Coaches will feature either two luxury or three standard suites and a lounge car will have a bar and dining area.
www.jrkyushu.co.jp/cruisetrain
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