Feedback from Travel Expo Japan 2024 and sales calls by Kristiina Kauppinen

Kristiina just attended the Travel Expo Japan in Tokyo.

The programme included: Sales Visits in Greater Tokyo area. We booked Sales Visits at the premises of local travel trade. Distances in Tokyo are huge. It is the most populated city in the world. We were able to provide minimum 2 Sales Visits in the morning and 2 in the afternoon. We used mainly local metro, train and taxi services. In our Sales Visit events normally public transportation tickets and taxi fares are included in the price. Sales Visits were conducted in 24 and 25 September.

Tourism Expo Japan 2024 in Tokyo

The entrance tickets are included in the package. There are two main Halls, one Hall is dedicated to Japanese inbound travel destinations. The most important is the Hall where foreign destinations, outbound tour operators, travel agencies and wholesalers are located.

Tourism Seminars were the third part of this programme. This was mainly targeted to B2C sector, but also to travel media and travel trade. We offered cinnamon rolls and coffee/tea for the guests.

Here is what Kristiina found interesting in Japanese outbound market:

I was on a sales trip in Tokyo on the last week of September.  First we made sales calls to the most important tour operators selling Finland and then we visited the Tourism Expo. We also held a seminar in Hyvää Matkaa café for the travel trade.

Tailor-made sales calls are always the best way to connect with the tour operators: you have time to present your product and discuss more profoundly about the possibilities and possible challenges.

You have to remember, that Japanese don’t express their feelings very openly. Face to face contacts are very important, also the continuity. Building up the trust does not happen overnight.

Tourism Expo: we had few prebooked appointments in the fair. We also visited the Baltic States and Finnair stands.

Tourism seminars in Hyvää Matkaa café:

The café is located in the center of Tokyo, near the important shopping street ( Omotesando )

It is owned and operated by Finn Corporation, a specialist in Finnish outbound travel. They only sell Finland as a destination. In the café they sell Finnish products ( Iittala, Marimekko, Muumin, Cinnamon buns etc. )

There are excellent direct flight connections to Finland with Finnair or Japan Airlines: to Haneda and Narita in Tokyo, also to Osaka and Nagoya. Finland still has the biggest market share in Scandinavian countries. Finland is also a year-round destination. The flight route goes through North Pole and it is appx. 4 hours longer than prior to the war in Ukraine, average duration is 13 hours. Your will get a Northern route diploma for flying over North Pole.

Because of the weak currency, the trips abroad are now more expensive. Nature, clean air, sauna, Northern Lights, Moomins, Finnish design, Finnish food, Santa Claus are still the most popular things to see and experience.

I have collected here the comments of the tour operators ( anonymously ):

• High end and budget segments are growing
• Inbound business is still growing. This trend started during pandemia and is still continuing its growth.
• More promotion and information of Finland is needed
• Many travellers book the trips directly ( accommodation, flights ) and only book activities through the tour operator
• There is no availability in Lapland during winter season, therefore they are also looking for other destinations in Finland
• The war in Ukraine is affecting, Finland is so near Russia
• There are also trips to one destination only ( one country ) especially in winter season
• In summer the round trips are popular: Scandinavian and Baltic countries
• City breaks with activity and airport transfers

What to do in your free time: I always try to have one or two days free to explore the city. I find it important to get to know the culture and habits. And try to learn a few words of Japanese, it will get you far!

I visited the Team Lab Borderless, a futuristic visual art exhibition. You need to book the tickets in advance. It is very popular.

Then I went to a few temples and shrines, explored the old part of the city, Taito-ku. I tried to avoid the most turistic areas, like Shinjuku and Shibuya. It is easy to move around with metro, using Google maps for guidance.

The local “konbinis “,supermarkets like 7-11, Family Mart and Lawson are famous with a great selection of cosmetics, food and everyday necessities. They have great food portions and they even heat it up for you. And they are everywhere. Very convenient.

Shopping: I went to Ginza, because wanted to visit Uniqlo, Daiso and Don Quijote. Great bargains.

Free city views: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

I joined a few Facebook groups before the trip ( e.g Tokyo travel tips ). There you can find the latest information and ask questions.

Food: No words, something for everybody. An important part of the trip.

I could continue this for ever. This was my 11^th time in Japan, and still a lot to explore!

Arigato gozaimasu Japan!

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