Seminar Promotes Products in Experiental Tourism Seminar
While cultural tourism remains a major motivation for visitors to Japan concerted efforts are been made to provide product that allows for greater interaction with the country and its people, said Jotaro Horiuchi, Executive Director, Japan National Tourist Organisation, during the first ever “Japan Experiential Travel Seminar” organised in Sydney earlier in the week.
The objective is to actually involve visitors in cultural activities like washi paper making, paper lantern making, calligraphy, sushi making, soba noodle making, pottery and flower arranging. When they actually participate they have a greater understanding of our culture, he said.
There is also a move to stimulate “active tourism or physical tourism” with visitors being encouraged to get involved in such activities as Zen meditation, Taiko drumming, Sumo wrestling, rafting, kayaking, trekking and even participating in Samurai and Ninja courses.
The introduction of English speaking guides and teachers is making these experiences a worthwhile inclusion for visitors from Australia, he added
[Pictured: Trekking tours through pristine wilderness area offer English speaking guides for greater interaction.]
Three other speakers supported the ‘Experience Japan’ theme. Hiroshi Yamashita, JNTO Sydney, said that Shikoku offered visitors many opportunities for wilderness trekking, rafting and river cruising.
The least populated of the four main islands, this beautiful retreat that retains many traditions is easily accessed from Osaka and Tokyo.
The Melbourne-based representative for Kyoto City, Yoshi Inoue, said that the 1 ½ million-strong city with 1600 Buddhist temples and three Imperial Palaces offered many “hands-on cultural products”.
For instance, English speaking teachers provide instruction in calligraphy, tea rituals and meditation in a tranquil setting where accommodation is also available. As well, visitors in authentic costumes can learn about the art of Samurai at the movie village northwest of Kyoto.
[Pictured: Glenn A. Baker provided insightful commentary on his recent experiences in Japan.]
Widely travelled journalist and broadcaster, Glenn A. Baker spoke about the diversity of experiential activities in Japan.
Citing numerous humorous examples from a mid year excursion he also included a series of amusing tales about drumming, ninja, fish markets and contemporary culture gathered from 10 visits made to Japan over the years.
Japan welcomed 195,000 Australians last year including those on brief stopovers. The 100,000 mark of dedicated ‘Destination Japan’ travellers from Australia was broken for the first time in 2006.
Australian arrivals into Japan from January – August 2007 have surpassed the 78,000 market registering a 27 per cent increase over 2006 figures.
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