Kyoto Tourism focuses on ME

Kyoto Tourism conducted a webinar on March 2, 2021 from focusing on the Middle East market titled “Discover the serene beauty of Kyoto prefecture, the must-see sights and unique experiences it has to offer” with a total of four partners. It was quite an interesting webinar session concluded by the partners of Kyoto Tourism as they presented the wide variety of offerings in each region.

Koji Kuriyama, Managing Director, Kyoto Tourism Federation

Middle East has become one of our key markets over the past few years. Over a period of one hour myself and three of our key partners will join in to showcase the beauty of our destination, the different offerings and experiences not to be missed out. We want the travel trade in Middle East to know more about the wide variety of sights in Kyoto prefecture and want to introduce our area to their customers.

I gave a brief at the beginning and the other speakers will share a more comprehensive presentation so that the trade partners can quickly learn the many interesting features and the must see areas such as Kyoto by the Sea, Woodland Kyoto, Kyoto Infused with Tea & Kyoto Otokuni Bamboo Grove. We are looking at mainly GCC and then Turkey and other countries in Middle East. We would like to invite the travel trade who would like to offer Kyoto or Japan for their customers.  Our webinar provided them all the must-see sights, unique experiences, etc. of all over Kyoto prefecture.

Ayumi Kimba, Director, J-Links Co.,Ltd.

We are a DMC specialising in inbound tourism to Japan. I can also say that I’m one of the registered specialist of Japan Tourism Agency, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. We have seen since 2016 that 80% of our customers are from Middle East as we’ve been participating in ATM (since 2016.)

Hence Middle East has become one of our key markets and our main objective is to ensure that the travel trade would be furnished with all the necessary information about the destination, its offerings, how to work in collaboration to ensure the promotion of the destination.

Ken Fujimoto, Representative, Japan Exploration Tours JIN

Our main areas focus on woodland Kyoto, Kyoto Infused with Tea & Kyoto Otokuni Bamboo Grove. We provide unique tours not only in Kyoto but other areas in Japan.  The most famous one is Mount Fuji (the highest mountain in Japan) climbing it is an experience not to be missed out for those who crave for adventure.

We have seen a keen interest in the Middle East travellers and they have become one of our key markets hence we want to take this opportunity to provide them maximum knowledge of the destination and the many offerings for the travel trade fraternity in the Middle East.

Jesse Efron, Overseas Promotion Manager, Kyoto by the Sea DMO

We are a DMO and one of the members of Kyoto Tourism Federation. We cover the northern part of Kyoto prefecture; by the sea. Middle East has become one of our key markets and we want the travel trade in Middle East to learn about the wide variety of sights in Kyoto, its beauty and want to introduce our area to their customers.

Inputs by Shehara Rizly