FOR many years Japan has been known as a destination which will not only inspire but also tantalises the senses.
In January 2011 Blossom Japan arrives in Tokyo, the first invitation-only event planned exclusively to develop both the inbound and outbound luxury travel market of Japan.
Gloria Gammo, head of marketing for organiser Lucioles, said: “Whether you are in Tokyo admiring the city lights, snowboarding down the ski fields in Hokkaido or climbing Mt Fuji, you may feel that you have experienced what Japan has to offer. However, it’s only when you really start looking at Japan closely and what is actually on the menu that you wonder how you could have possibly missed fishing and eating winter crab in the Ishikawa prefecture, diving in the tropical waters of Okinawa or exploring contemporary art on Naoshima Island.”
She added that while Japan is an outstanding destination for the discerning traveller, it does have teething problems when it comes to promoting its wonders to the rest of the world and the international high-end travel arranger may find it difficult to cater to the requirements of clients who demand the very best, not because Japan doesn’t have the ingredients to make up the itinerary but because the arranger doesn’t have the right contacts to put that itinerary together.
The government of Japan has identified the opportunity Blossom Japan will bring to Japanese tourism. With an increase in its target number of foreign visitors, the Japan Tourism Agency has identified the high-end of the tourism market as ‘high priority’ with serious measures in place to target high-net-worth individuals (HNWI) from overseas markets.
Inbound, Blossom gives Japanese luxury travel suppliers the opportunity to meet with the luxury travel buyers and unique lifestyle providers serving the International HNWI. The one-to-one business meetings that will take place will create the foundation for a business relationship, opening the doors of Japan to the international traveller.
Aseel Travel, a high-end, bespoke travel company based in Oman will be one of the top buyers attending Blossom Japan 2011.
President and chief operating officer Ashok Raval said: “Japan has everything to offer as a tourist destination, the real highlight of a visit to Japan is the gracious hospitality of the Japanese themselves. I am looking forward to attending Blossom Japan to exchange on possible issues which might be a hurdle in developing Japan as a destination and discover the latest international and Japanese trends, products and services.”
Outbound out of Japan, Blossom also gives international luxury travel suppliers the opportunity to meet with the luxury travel buyers and unique lifestyle providers serving the Japanese HNWI.
The Japanese are famous lovers of luxury goods and services, with the highest population of HNWI (second only to the US), they consume two and a half times more luxury goods and services than the US customer. For any operator in the luxury travel industry they are the ideal customer, Japan should be one of the top priorities in a luxury travel products marketing budget.
Blossom Japan will be the ideal platform for Japanese specialist agencies and travel advisors to source and discover new products that will offer the life-changing experiences their customers are seeking.
The event, which runs from January 18 to 21, will commence with a full-day conference followed by a three-day exhibition at the Tokyo International Forum. Social events are planned each night to facilitate further networking opportunities for everyone. And finally one free day in Tokyo is also included in the package to allow all participants to experience the best that Tokyo and the surrounding regions have to offer.