TokyoTomo Travel Guide

Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) organized a Hong Kong MICE travel mission in Tokyo and Osaka on the occasion of the first anniversary of establishing its MEHK (Meeting & Event Hong Kong) specialized in MICE (Meeting, Incentive, Congress and Event). On February 26, the seminar and workshop were held in Tokyo. 27 tourism delegations including convention facilities, hotels and local tour operators from Hong Kong participated in the event and elaborated on the respective sales points. Albert Tang, Representative, Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Tokyo), mentioned during the welcome address that a construction of high-speed railways started in January this year, expressing his high expectation that the high-speed railway services should help make new travel plans featuring the respective counties in China as well as Hong Kong.

During the seminar, Go Furuya, Senior Marketing Executive East Japan, HKTB made presentations, revealing that a variety of “food” in Hong Kong is absolutely a top feature item and gets increased attention especially after the “Michelin Guide Hong Kong and Macau” was issued last year. Also, Hong Kong will see in the latter part of this year a completion of the International Commerce Centre (ICC Tower), which will be the world’s third tallest building with 118 stories. By the end of 2011, the Ritz-Carlton Hotel will be located in ICC Tower. 1881 Heritage which was opened last year offers excellent shopping, dining and other facilities, enriched with sophisticated services. On the other hand, there have been an increasing number of inquiries about nature experiences. Furuya explained about activities enabling visitors to Hong Kong to have contact with nature that include the pink dolphin-watching, tree-planting and volunteer work. As the Hong Kong government allocates a part of the profits from these activities to the conservation of nature, he said that the visitors to Hong Kong can also contribute to society while they enjoy experiencing nature.

Some companies decided already during the workshop to hold MICE in Hong Kong. An event of several thousands of people is said to have been planned during this year. Kunio Kano, Regional Director-North Asia, HKTB, reminded that “Japan-Hong Kong Tourism Exchange Year 2009” has been prolonged until March this year, hoping that the travel industry will also take full advantage of the extension in promoting MICE.

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.

SHANGHAI – China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) and Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration (SMTA) held a joint seminar for the World Expo 2010 on March 3 at Shanghai, inviting 354 travel agents and media people from Hokkaido, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, and Fukuoka. Dao Shuming, chairman of SMTA, and Zhu Shanzhong, vice chairman of CNTA, made speeches at the seminar, showing their great expectation for a multitude of Japanese visitor arrivals by efforts of Japanese travel agencies. Dao expressed his commitment to make the visitors happy and have them bring back a good memory of the event, removing any causes to impair the consumers’ interests. On behalf of the Japanese delegation, Toshihiro Nikai, member of House of Representatives, and Kosuke Shibata, president of Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA), also made speeches to the effect that, despite some existing problems related to acquisition of entrance tickets and accesses to the Expo site, it would be in the interest of both parties for Japan to send as many people as possible to Shanghai Expo.

The Chinese officials explained at the seminar how to handle groups at the Expo ground. They make special gates for groups and a vast parking area is prepared for tour buses close to the gates. A group of ten people or more, officially acknowledged as a group, are entitled to make reservation at any one of the pavilions for preferential entry. They also informed that there are about 40,000 restaurants in Shanghai and many of them are listed on the Japanese search website “Gourmet Navigator” for quick reference, which would help Japanese tourists to find an appropriate eating place. The Japanese delegation made inspection of the Expo venue and the neighboring cities on March 5 and the following days.

By SHIE IWASA, Correspondent

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.

Tourism Australia (TA) has selected JTB TRAVELAND Nagareyama Ito-Yokado for the first-prize winner of the Shop Display Competition 2009. TA has distributed a set of shop display goods to candidate travel agents such as posters, stuffed kangaroo dolls, etc. The competition was held during 29 September and 15 December 2009.

Staff members of the JTB TRAVELAND Nagareyama Ito-Yokado have got together, thought up ideas, and eventually created a display which introduces an appeal of various destinations in Australia through the year by using a calendar style format. Since the team has set up a theme of eco, the display was beautifully decorated by wasted brochures and materials, shells etc. All the information has been collected from the staff who have experience in travelling to Australia and the staff in Australia. They have gained extra knowledge of Australia through their enthusiastic work and research.

The TA’s points for selecting winners include the display with a spacious area against a floor space of the shop, the display with homey hand-made work that the team has spent time and effort, etc. Particularly, the winner team has introduced each travel destination together with its main season, and fit them into the monthly calendar. Also it is not only drawing customers’ attention but also useful for the shop staff to give guidance to the customers, and it can be displayed through the whole year. This wonderful idea has received a high valuation and led to win a prize.

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