On 18 and 19 February, the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) hosted the “21st Inbound Visitor Promotion Forum” at the Prince Hotel, Shinagawa, Tokyo.
As previously reported by IAG, 2018 was a record year for overseas visitors to Japan with 31 million visitors. The efforts and support of organizations like the JNTO are essential to maintaining momentum for the development of Japanese IR.
A presentation by JNTO/MICE Promotion Division Head, Ms Etsuko Kawasaki, drew attention on the first day of the seminar, as she noted that the economic impact of MICE is set to be significant in the country’s first IRs. This gathering focused on analysis of Incentive (the I in MICE) travel market trends. Data from JNTO offices in locations across the world was compiled and trends in the West and Southeast Asia for incentive trips were compared.
“When speaking with overseas MICE officials, they relay the majority opinion that Japan is a safe destination for overseas travel,” Kawasaki said. “And as an incentive destination from the West, we can expect it holds a lot of untapped potential.”
Kawasaki was the first Japanese person to be named among the “25 Most Influential People in the Meeting Industry” in the leading North American MICE industry magazine Successful Meetings. Under her leadership, the JNTO MICE branding campaign is gaining steam.
RelatedPosts
