"JATA ’TABIHAKU’ Travel Showcase” and “Travel Fair Japan” were combined into a new event “Tourism EXPO Japan 2014.” For this inaugural year, 1,129 companies (1,187 booths) from 151 countries/areas exhibited in the event and among 574 of them (1,098 booths) were companies/organizations from all prefectures of Japan.
Imperial Prince AkishinonomiyaOn the first day of the event, Imperial Prince Akishinonomiya attended the opening ceremony. In his speech, he acknowledged the significance of the two tourism events – domestic and international, being consolidated into one from this year, and looked forward to further expansion of tourism industry and cooperation of concerned parties.
He also expressed that the tourism industry will “play more prominent role in the future” as it contributes to international interactions. Those honorable words addressed on the opening day of the event which aimed at further expansion of the tourism industry, seemed to have given the industry some class.
We will take a look back of the first Tourism EXPO, which concluded with great success, in pictures. Our editorial department focused on 4 noteworthy points although they are only a small part of the event.
Point 1: Number of online travel services exhibited for the first time
Online travel agents (OTA), overseas web services which operate in Japan, IT services and such exhibited in the event. They were eager in not only in online services but also in real-life promotions as well.
DeNA Travel
Skyscanner, a major travel search site
Nant Mobile, providing local revitalization services using image-recognition technique
Earthtory, Tourist spot map service from Korea
TOMARERU
airbnbPoint 2: Number of companies from outside of tourism industry exhibited
Although they are not directly involved in tourism, number of companies from outside of tourism industry exhibited, considering economic and other spreading effects tourism would bring. For example, Regional Form Cards exhibited by Japan Post are post cards featuring characteristics of each prefecture and they are targeted to be purchased during travels. Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which has begun to utilize tourism as a means for local revitalization, appealed tourism related merchandise developed by 9 local Chamber of Commerce and Industry from various areas of Japan.
5 municipal bodies recognized as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems also exhibited in the event. Policies of each local body may vary, but they are all expected to effectively combine agriculture and tourism.
Japan Post
Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry
5 municipal bodies recognized as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems
Camping vehicle fair
FOOD ACTION NIPPON
Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.Point 3: Traditional Craft Corner
The Association for the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries brought craftspersons from 11 areas in Japan, which are famous for traditional craft products, and offered demonstrations and experiences for craft making in their exhibition corner. The exhibit transmitted splendor of the traditional crafts to the world, and at the same time, it seemed to have made Japanese visitors to rediscover the greatness of their traditional culture. Those exhibitions were effectively appealed travels to discover traditional culture.
Traditional craft making experience corner
Edo Kimekomi dolls (wooden dolls) from Saitama
Birchbark works form Akita
Hikone Buddhist altar from Siga
Takaoka bronze ware from Toyama
Hasami porcelain from NagasakiPoint 4: “Eye-popping/ heart-quickening” exhibits
Enjoyable exhibits draw visitors’ attention on both the business days and general consumer days. Visitors must have felt more excited since domestic oriented “Travel Fair Japan” and International oriented “JATA ’TABIHAKU’ Travel Showcase” were joined together. Following are a few of elaborate exhibitions we took notice of.
Model of Airbus A380
Fado played live at a café in Macau tourist bureau booth
Min-aquarium exhibited by Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
Robots from a robot restaurant from Shinjuku, Tokyo
Jellyfish from Kamo Aquarium, Yamagata
Tobo Group exhibited a reproduction of Tokyo SkytreeIn addition, traditional and modern performances from various parts of Japan and world were presented and the visitors enjoyed mock travels. JATA Tourism EXPO Japan Office posts many pictures from the event in their website gallery. Please refer to the site for more details of the event we could not cover in this article.
(Kaoru Yamaoka, Travel Voice Editorial Department)
