POLITICAL tensions between Japan and China over the ownership of Senkaku Islands in Ishigaki, Okinawa Prefecture have put some Okinawan MICE sellers at the edge of their seats, as China is one of the destination’s key tourism source markets due to direct air access and proximity.

Bankoku Shinryokan Okinawa, a resort-style convention centre where the 2000 Kyushu-Okinawa G8 Summit was held, regards China as a “big market”.

Yuko Shimozono, MICE coordinator of the venue, told TTGmice e-Weekly: “Most of our business from China are government meetings, with some involving officials from China, Japan and South Korea. While this (the Senkaku Island tussle) is unlikely to affect corporate meetings from China, we are starting to see some negative impact on government events from China. We suspect that Chinese government bodies that organise these meetings are thinking twice about coming to Japan.

While DMC Okinawa has not seen any cancellations or slow down in MICE bookings from China, Reiko Tokuda, a representative of the company, said “the situation is worrying”.

“Business from (Greater) China is still as usual for now, but you never know,” said Toshihide Ozaki, JTB Okinawa general manager-inbound.

“We were supposed to have a corporate group from Hong Kong on August 26, but the client cancelled it abruptly. No reason was given, and it could be due to (the escalation of events),” Ozaki said.

A wave of anti-Japanese protests over the Senkaku Islands dispute was held in various Chinese cities on August 19, and a Japanese ambassador was reportedly assaulted on August 27 in Beijing.

“I know we should diversify into other source markets (as a buffer against a potential dip in Chinese MICE business), but (Greater) China is such an important market because there are direct flights from Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. We would love to strengthen our MICE business from South-east Asia, but the lack of direct air access is a stumbling block.”

THE MICE bureau of Okinawa, Japan has set in motion plans to grow the destination’s pool of unique venues for business events, following its success last year in getting the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium to open its famous Kuroshio Sea gallery for private functions.

Speaking to TTGmice e-Weekly during the Okinawa MICE Project familiarisation tour and trade show earlier this week, Sen Tamaki, manager, overseas marketing section of Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau (OCVB), said: “Shurijo Castle Park is next on our wish list.”

Shurijo Castle Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, houses the restored palace of the ancient Ryukyu Kingdom and other key architecture. In 2000 it hosted a dinner reception in the courtyard in front of Seiden, the main castle building, for country leaders attending the Kyushu-Okinawa G8 Summit.

“Shurijo Castle Park has always been off-limits to private events but we (OCVB) are pushing for it to be open to private and business events. It would make such an impactful venue,” said Tamaki.

“I believe we are making good progress because later this month a reception for the delegates of a scientific convention will be held in the park. Although the reception will not be within the castle and will take place in one of the many open spaces in the park, we must recognise that it will be the first-ever private event to be held there,” he added.

Tamaki is also keen to add some of the facilities within the American military bases to Okinawa’s menu of unique venues. Some 20 per cent of the land is used by the American military.

He said: “These bases have huge venues such as sports halls and auditoriums. These spaces are perfect for MICE, and will allow us to court large-scale events. We have started talking to the authorities but I must admit this will not be easy to achieve. Security will be the biggest obstacle because a large-scale MICE event will have attendees from all over the world, and some may come from countries that have particularly sensitive political relations with the US.”

THE OKINAWA Convention & Visitors Bureau (OCVB) has kicked off market research on India and the Middle East, in hopes of eventually grooming these into key MICE and leisure tourism sources.

Sen Tamaki, OCVB overseas marketing section manager, said: “India has a huge population, and its birth rate is very high – much more than that of China which has a birth control policy. In 10 to 20 years’ time, these children, many of whom will come from well-to-do families, will be educated adults. They will travel the world and we must draw them to Okinawa, whether for leisure or for business.”

He added: “The Middle East is a huge outbound tourism market now, although not yet for Okinawa. However, the prefecture government has instructed the tourism board to pay close attention to the Middle East, and we are in the midst of studying the needs of Middle Eastern travellers.”

Tamaki believes that Okinawa will have to pay particular attention to the diet of Indian and Middle Eastern travellers if the destination wants to succeed in these markets.

He said: “Our studies so far have shown that (familiar cuisine) is very important to these travellers. Muslim travellers, in particular, need Halal food, and unfortunately there are very few Halal restaurants in Okinawa. We’ve conveyed our findings to the tourism suppliers in Okinawa, and it is up to them make use of it to draw these potential source markets.”

KPG Hotels & Resort’s Kafuu Resort Fuchaku Condo-Hotel and Tokyo Dai-ichi Hotel Okinawa Grand Mer Resort, both in Okinawa, are among the few hotels that have started to offer Halal dining options.

Carl Bastian, a representative of the hotel chain’s international sales division, said: “We are able to tailor a Halal menu for corporate groups with Muslim delegates, and also allocate a function room to serve as a prayer room.

“Halal food is pricey in Okinawa because options are few and this is a speciality. We want to offer affordable Halal dining arrangements. In fact, our Halal dining options are priced a third of what other hotels or restaurants are charging.”

To demonstrate its Halal dining capability, the five-star Kafuu Resort Fuchaku Condo-Hotel hosted 13 buyers from Singapore and Malaysia during the recently concluded Okinawa MICE Project for lunch in a seaview function room, presenting a main course of grilled chicken and a buffet selection of Thai green curry, grilled local vegetables, salad, fruits and juice. Bastian said the arrangement cost “about JPY3,000 (US$38) per pax”.

The resort’s international marketing chief, Lina Takahashi, said: “There is a huge Muslim travel market, not just travellers from the Middle East, but few dare to venture to new destinations because of dietary limitations. Our kitchens may not be Halal-certified, but what we have done is to have our chefs trained in Halal cooking practices, and to obtain our food supplies from Halal-certified companies.”

Zulkefli Hj Sharif, CEO of the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), has been appointed president of the Asian Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus (AACVB).

Zulkefli’s responsibility will include raising the platform, level of sophistication and capabilities of the business events industry in Asia, and to drive business to AACVB’s member destinations.

He succeeds Akapol Surasuchart, the former president of Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau.

THE 204-key Hilton Chennai, India has rolled out a meeting deal for US$50 (excluding taxes) per delegate.

The package includes use of a meeting room, a welcome breakfast or coffee service upon arrival, morning and afternoon coffee and tea service with snacks, and a customised lunch.

The offer is valid till December 31, and a minimum guarantee of 25 pax is required.

The hotel is conveniently located next to the Olympia Technology Park in Guindy, and approximately 15 minutes from the international and domestic airports. Besides a well-appointed business centre, the hotel offers extensive conference and banqueting facilities that can accommodate up to 750 guests in various event settings.

A RESIDENTIAL meeting package priced from US$149 per person per roomnight is being offered by InterContinental Asiana Saigon in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam as part of its third anniversary celebration.

The deal includes accommodation in a deluxe room, full-day or half-day meeting package at one of the hotel’s 11 meeting rooms, an hour of welcome cocktail with canapé at Purple Jade bar, complimentary Internet access in guestrooms and the meeting room, complimentary pressing service for one item a day, and one complimentary guestroom for every 20 paying guestrooms.

The meeting package is valid until 31 December, and is applicable for new bookings of at least 10 guestrooms. Other terms apply.