TokyoTomo Travel Guide

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.

The competition has been held in the last three years, and 924 shops have requested the set of TA’s shop display goods. Requests have increased since they have received requests from 547 shops for the 1st competition and 724 shops for the 2nd competition. Also, TA has received some positive comments from the shop participants such as “Our display led to extra business”, “Inquiries for business have increased”, “Out display has helped giving ideas for the customer with no idea where to go” etc.

Mr. Tatsuro Iwata, Business Development Manager Japan of Tourism Australia, has commented “Firstly, it is important that you make a request for a set of display goods.” He has assessed that they have received about 1000 requests. Besides, as a merit of the competition, he has enlighten that it would raise awareness of Australia and creates PR effects on consumers. They are planning to organize such promotion in a new way. It does not mean to restrict for competitions but also conducting promotion activities with JATA in order to achieve destination specialists, and proceeding sales support for travel agents.

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.