India★Indian Visitors to Japan Hit Record High; Largest Travel Expo Thrives

The Japanese government's "Visit Japan Campaign," aimed at promoting tourism from abroad, is poised to soon elevate India to a "priority market." In 2014, the number of Indian visitors to Japan reached an estimated 88,000, a 17.1% increase from the previous year and a record high. Upgrading India to priority status offers the advantage of not only expanding the budget but also strengthening promotional efforts targeting not just travel agencies but also general consumers. At the South Asia Travel & Tourism Exhibition (SATTE), India's largest travel trade fair held in Delhi in January, the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) set up a pavilion. A record six organizations participated, signaling a full-scale public-private effort to attract visitors to Japan.

This marked the fourth time JNTO established a Japan Pavilion. Participants included the Hokkaido Tourism Organization, Shizuoka Prefecture Southeast Asia Representative Office, Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau, along with Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways, and Fuji-Q Sales, totaling six organizations. For the first time, major travel agencies H.I.S. and Asahi Travel served as contact points, conducting detailed briefings on Japanese travel products for local agencies.

The Hokkaido Tourism Organization introduced attractions like the Snow Festival and city-specific landmarks. Michiko Nakamori, Group Manager of Promotion Group 2 (International), commented, "At last year's Sapporo Snow Festival, displaying a snow sculpture of a building from the Indian tourist city of Agra led to an increase in Indian tourists." Given that many Indians enjoy nature, she highlighted Hokkaido's grand natural landscapes and delicious vegetables.

The Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau introduced student exchange programs. Deputy Director and Senior Director Tatsuya Okawa (Inbound Attraction) stated, "Through local travel agencies we met at last year's business meeting, we've already sent tours to Japan for over a dozen Indian students. This year, we plan to organize student tours for around 200 people." He also mentioned considering tours sending Japanese students to India.

Local governments are also actively catering to India's large vegetarian population. The Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau distributed booklets listing about 40 restaurants serving Indian cuisine. The Shizuoka Prefecture Southeast Asia Representative Office distributed DVDs showcasing model travel packages incorporating prefectural restaurants serving vegetarian cuisine.

This year's SATTE saw participation from approximately 650 companies and organizations (a 1.6% increase from the previous year) representing 50 countries and regions worldwide.

Indian Visitors to Japan Reach Record High

In response to these results, the Japanese government is strengthening its efforts. The Japan Tourism Agency has requested that India be upgraded to a priority market for the Visit Japan Campaign. It is awaiting Diet approval, targeting March this year.

By purpose of visit, business travel accounts for 44.1% of Indian visitors to Japan, while tourism makes up 31.0%. The Japanese government began issuing short-term visas for Indians last July. It expects future growth in visitor numbers, particularly among business travelers.