New highs in Australian tourism to Japan, with Kana Wakabayashi of JNTO

Australians’ love affair with Japan as a travel destination continues. After a decline in 2011, traveller numbers to Japan set a new record of 445,000 in 2016 (up 18% on 2015). And what’s not to love about Japan, with its snowfields, onsen, cherry blossoms and autumn leaves, and delicious food!

Sustained promotion by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) is one of the secrets of this revival. JNTO Sydney’s Executive Director Ms. Kana Wakabayashi will join us to discuss recent trends and the activities by JNTO that have contributed to the success. Innovative marketing techniques, such as the sponsorship of Japan Week during Masterchef, are key to expanding first time and repeat traveller numbers.

Join us to discuss these and related tourism topics and meet Ms. Wakabayashi. Registrations are now open - sign up online or use the form. As usual, the talk will be followed by networking drinks.

Speaker Bio

Kana Wakabayashi arrived in Sydney earlier this year to head up the JNTO Sydney office. Her career in JNTO has taken her to Seoul, where she was Director of the office there, and has included positions responsible for Asian market development, in marketing and promotion, and as Assistant Manager of the Tourist Information Centre.