HOKKAIDO will be organising a 4D3N fam trip in February 2013 for outbound tour operators from North and South-east Asia as well as the US.
The fam trip will showcase Hokkaido’s ski resorts, allow local suppliers and inbound operators to network with overseas travel consultants, and also demonstrate that the destination is safe to visit after the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami in March 2011.
Hosted by the Hokkaido Ski Promotion Council and supported by the Hokkaido Tourism Organization, the programme will be sponsored by the Japanese and Hokkaido governments and various local tourism players.
Kimitsugu Kamori, executive director of Kamori Kanko, which manages the 1,100-room Rusutsu Resort Hotel & Convention in Hokkaido, told TTG Asia e-Daily that the property received cancellations for 20,000 pax in the aftermath of the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, and was still experiencing a 20 per cent shortfall in customers compared to before the disaster.
M Nantha Gopal, managing director, Nantha Travel & Tours, said promotional efforts such as the upcoming fam trip were necessary to regain the confidence of tour operators, who would in turn be more inclined to sell the destination.
“It is a known fact that international arrivals to Japan have dropped a lot since March 11, 2011. And there is also strong competition from South Korea for the tourist dollar. Of late, South Korea has captured the imaginations of Malaysians with the Gangnam Style craze,” he said.
Cathy Wong , business development director, Japan Holidays, said the fam trip was a good opportunity for Malaysian travel consultants as many were still unfamiliar with the ski resorts and activities available in Hokkaido.
