Japan courts Vancouver travel agents

The Japan National Tourism Organization, along with Go Tokyo and suppliers from Japan and Canada welcomed Vancouver travel agents to a trade show and presentation at the Hyatt Regency on March 2 to learn about the country and its attractions.

"We're here to promote more about Japan-bound tourism from Canada," said Hideaki Nakazawa, Executive Director, Canada for the Japan National Tourism Organization. "The cruise market is booming, and for the first time in history, over 300,000 Canadians came to Japan."

According to a survey by the Print Measurement Bureau, he noted, 90 per cent of those travellers came from Ontario and British Columbia.

Asked for three tips agents should keep in mind while presenting Japan to their clients, Nakazawa listed the country's safety, its distinctive cuisine and the fact it is a growing market.

Asked the same question, Shin Kawai, Go Tokyo's Canadian representative, added his city "is not expensive. You can choose to spend hundreds of dollars on one dinner, but at the same time if you go to a convenience store or a food alley, and the regular restaurants, they are not expensive. If you think about it, there is no tip system and sales tax is very low, including hotels. They are quite reasonable."

Highlights

Air Canada: AC has announced direct service between Montreal and Tokyo starting June 1, 2018. The year-round service will operate daily during the summer season and three times a week in winter, aboard a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Air Canada operates 46 non-stop return flights per week between Canada and Japan, including up to seven times a week flights between Vancouver and Tokyo Narita; double daily flights between Toronto and Tokyo Haneda and Tokyo Narita; flights up to seven times a week between Calgary and Tokyo Narita. Air Canada also offers summer seasonal service to Osaka's Kansai International Airport daily up to seven times per week and Chubu Centrair International Airport in Nagoya up to four times per week with Air Canada Rouge.

Royal Scenic: Japanorama - Cherry Blossom is a guided, 7-day/6-night land-only package that takes in Osaka, Nara, Kyoto, Toyohashi, Hakone, Yokohama and Tokyo. Package includes: six nights' accommodation; six breakfasts, two lunches, one dinner; English-speaking guide; private air-conditioned coach; some sightseeing admissions; round-trip group airport transfer; all domestic transfers; and tour tipping. Land-only price is $1748.00 double occupancy; $618.00 single supplement.