- Japan welcomes the world and reinforces itself as a power player in the luxury travel business
@ILTM_events
: #iltmjapan
Kyoto,
Japan
(19
March 2014) –
organised
with
the support of the
City
of Kyoto and the Japan Tourism Agency (JTA), the
second annual edition of specialist event ILTM Japan
(www.iltm.com/japan)
closed
today announcing that over 1000 business appointments took place over
the last three days at
the SODOH
Higashiyama, Kyoto.
Alison
Gilmore, Senior Exhibition Director, ILTM Portfolio commented:
“The
success and focus of ILTM Japan 2014 is clear: luxury travel brands
need look no further to meet with those representing the highest net
worth of both Japanese travellers and those from the international
community.”
Japan
is noted for being one of Asia’s largest outbound travel markets,
according to the JTA, spending US$ 24 billion between April 2012 and
March 2013, an increase of 5% year on year. The
only event of its kind in the country and entirely dedicated to the
high end Japanese luxury travel sector, ILTM Japan 2014 welcomed over
100 buyers and exhibitors in
an agenda of one to one appointments.
International
luxury travel buyers attended from Singapore,
South Africa, Argentina, Australia, the Netherlands, Germany, China,
Malaysia, Canada, the US and UK - 34% had never visited an ILTM event
before. In addition, elite Japanese buyers - 86% of whom were also
first time visitors to the event - met with
international exhibitors to build global business opportunities.
Following ILTM’s successful formula, each
buyer was accredited to ensure they met the criteria to attend and
was then fully hosted at the event by ILTM.
The
scene was set at ILTM Japan’s Opening Forum where industry leaders
predicted inbound and outbound trends for Japan’s luxury travel
industry. Economist Hitoshi Yoshimura, a former hotel owner and
operator and Dean of the Japan Hotel Association summarised Japan’s
continuing upward trajectory in its quest to welcome 20 million
inbound visitors by 2020 when the Olympic Games will be hosted by
Tokyo.
He
said: “Japan
boasts 8.4% of the world wealthiest individuals, second only to the
USA. In addition, with its increasing GDP and rising Nikkei stock
index, there is a clear optimism in Japan for the first time in
decades. Equally, Japan welcomed 10 million inbound visitors in
2013, the largest number since 1964 when we last hosted the Olympic
Games.”
Mary
Gostelow, founder of the luxury travel market intelligence newsletter
Gostelow Report and
arguably one of the most prolific luxury travellers of today also
took the audience on a global journey of luxury destinations for the
high-end Japanese market.
Finally,
a panel of international editors in luxury travel, representing
Target, China; Travel + Leisure SE Asia and CREA Traveller, Japan
took part in a discussion about what inspires them to decide
on their luxury travel features and who features within their annual
hot lists, as well as where their readers will be travelling in 2014.
The
business of ILTM Japan took place over two days with 1000
appointments taking place between Japanese and international
exhibitors and buyers. There was enthusiastic praise for the event
from both buyers and exhibitors:
Lianne
Kelly-Maartens, International Sales and Marketing Manager, Sun
International’s Route of the African Sun:
“The
intimacy of ILTM Japan is the reason for its phenomenal success for
us. I have begun relationships with some incredible high end buyers
that I hope will last a lifetime and we will be back next year to
build on this success and continue to expand our Japanese market.”
Florian
Piper, Senior International Sales Manager, Oceanwide Expeditions:
“This
is my first time at an ILTM event and the quality of the Japanese
buyers I have met and business already generated has exceeded all my
expectations – I cannot wait to attend ILTM Japan 2015.”
Kensuke
Takada of Hotel Tsuruga Group:
“We
had no idea that there was so much international interest in Japanese
luxury travel experiences – we have met with valuable buyers from
more than 10 countries and anticipate significant business from
almost all.”
International
buyer, Daniela Bonanno of South Africa’s Absolute Travel:
“I
have discovered some real hidden gems at ILTM Japan – so many
special interest and cultural experiences I simply would never have
discovered if I had not attended: from bird-watching to traditional
samurai culture, this is a world away from Tokyo, Kyoto and Hakone.”
Tadashi
Kawarmura of Japan’s El Mundo Travel Co Ltd:
“ILTM
Japan has introduced me to some incredible opportunities for my high
net worth clients. From honeymoons and authentic experiences in
Bhutan to the opportunity to drive a Formula 1 car on the Abu Dhabi
racetrack for my clients at Toyota, I can’t wait to tell them all,
all about my discoveries.”
ILTM
Japan 2015 will take place in March 2015. For further information,
please contact david.paterson@reedexpo.co.uk
or visit www.iltm.com/japan.