TokyoTomo Travel Guide

On the occasion of his recent visit to Japan, David H. Uchiyama, Vice President of Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) told the trade journals that HTA anticipates attracting travel demand in the Japanese regional markets, commenting on the recent proposed decision on the Haneda/Honolulu route in favor of Hawaiian Airlines. Airlines have pulled out local flights to Hawaii since 2003, said Uchiyama. There has been quite a decline in travel demand for Hawaii observed in the regional markets due to longer traveling time and extra costs involved when routed via Narita and Kansai international airports. The newly proposed Haneda/Honolulu route will be operated by Hawaiian Airlines’ late-night flight with an excellent connection from and to the local airports. The new service should definitely boost travel demand from the regional cities, anticipated Uchiyama.

When the Haneda/Honolulu route is officially approved for Hawaiian Airlines to start scheduled flights, Hawaiian Tourism Authority (HTA) intends to fully support the airline. Hawaiian Tourism of Japan (HTJ) will also address a new approach to the Japanese travel industry, providing a seminar at different prefectures tailored to the respective regional market need. Seminars will be held targeting those cities previously served by direct flights to and from Hawaii. The very first seminar is slated for May in Hiroshima, HTJ said.

Japan Airlines has unveiled that it will suspend its Narita/Kona service effective from October 31 this year. Commenting on JAL’s suspension, Takashi Ichikura, Director of Hawaii Tourism Japan (HTJ) said, while showing his understanding for JAL’s ongoing business turnaround plan, that he bitterly regrets the airline’s withdrawal from Kona, citing that its seat load factor averaged 70 percent throughout the year. Uchiyama added, however, that HTA has urged three to four airlines to consider to starting the Kona route, expecting to receive any definite conclusions hopefully within one month. At Honolulu International Airport, passenger flows at the immigrations are long and congested at certain peak hours, whilst, at Kona International Airport, the immigration flows are smoother for passengers arriving in Kona and departing there from. The airlines concerned have already shown a positive interest in a service to Kona. Some of them are even considering to starting a new service immediately after JAL stops flying, it is reported.

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Japan Tourism Agency (JTA) has set the “Japan MICE Year” going in full swing from April. This special year was conceived along with the MICE Action Plan drawn up last July in the framework of “30 Million Foreign Visitors Project.” With the start of a new fiscal year in April, numerous programs and events are scheduled in line with the JTA’s MICE promotion initiative.

As a new undertaking, JTA implements skill-training programs at home and abroad targeting staff of MICE-related organizations and corporations with a view to developing personnel resources for MICE solicitation and operations. In overseas, it encourages the staff working for convention bureaus and professional congress organizers (PCO) to take part in short training sessions hosted by MICE-oriented international institutions, or send them to such institutions, convention bureaus, and PCOs for a period of a few months or half a year, under the “overseas training scheme,” for the purpose of getting them on-the-job training to acquire professional knowledge for bringing MICE to Japan. At home, JTA is going to hold training sessions in Tokyo and Osaka, inviting lecturers from international institutions. As such arrangements are now in the finalizing process, it will put out a call for interested parties at the end of May and then get each program started.

JTA plans to set up a booth at seven major MICE fairs in the world to present Japan as a MICE-hosting country. Especially at IMEX, the world- largest MICE fair held in Frankfurt at the end of May, it will occupy a space of 203 square meters, tripling the size of the previous year. It wants to impress MICE planners or specialists of the world that Japan is keen to attract MICE from overseas.

On July 14, JTA hosts a symposium at Osaka ATC Hall in commemoration of the Japan MICE Year, to which guest speakers from some international organizations will be invited to discuss strategies for MICE solicitation. Concurrently, a trade show will be held for local convention bureaus to participate in as exhibitors.

Source: Travel Vision

Travel Vision Inc. provides information on the travel industry in Japan via "Daily Travel Vision", a Japanese-language e-mail newsletter, and the "Travel Vision" website. There are nearly 110,000 people working in the Japanese travel industry, and Travel Vision is proud to be bringing travel news to more than 30,000 people through Daily Travel Vision.

Loretta de Stefani, Director Business Development of Perth Convention Bureau (PCB), Western Australia, made her first visit to Japan some days ago. It was the first visit for any PCB member as well. She expressed PCB’s desire to invite more incentive tours from the Japanese market.

Stefani elaborated on good access to Perth and adequate seat supply to accommodate business groups, emphasizing the vital roll of Qantas Airways serving three times a week with non-stop flights. She also stressed that Perth is proud of sufficient travel infrastructure to cater for big-scale MICE, such one as big as 5,000 attendees maximum. It is said there are 3,624 rooms at starred hotels available in the business district of Perth, and their categories range from internationally-acclaimed five-star hotels to casino hotels and to boutique hotels. The city hosted the Australia Tourism Exchange (ATE) twice in the past, and there was a big incentive group of 1,100 participants from Japan a few years ago, she added.

Stefani mentioned several interesting cases of MICE outside a hotel banquet room, taking advantage of the unique surroundings of Perth. She gave examples of having an outdoor dinner party with beautiful scenery of Perth as the backdrop, and a party in the zoological garden or at the correction facility or in the cave. It can be arranged, she said, to include a team-building program in a form of sailing or kayaking or to take part in one of the local events like the Wild Flower Festival in September.

PCB is ready to introduce appropriate facilities and activities to MICE organizers and to propose specific plans and schedules without any charge. In case of a big group of 300 participants or more, it will render free service of arranging a local inspection or some other assistance. Even for a smaller group of 20 to 80, PCB will extend gift service and welcome board service.

Source: Travel Vision

Travel Vision Inc. provides information on the travel industry in Japan via "Daily Travel Vision", a Japanese-language e-mail newsletter, and the "Travel Vision" website. There are nearly 110,000 people working in the Japanese travel industry, and Travel Vision is proud to be bringing travel news to more than 30,000 people through Daily Travel Vision.