Taking place with the support of the town of Kyoto and the Japan Tourism Agency, the launch edition of International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) Japan – the primary country specific event inside the ILTM global portfolio – facilitated over 2,500 business meetings when it occurred over the past three days in Kyoto.
ILTM Japan 2013 welcomed over 100 buyers and exhibitors in an agenda of 1-to-one appointments – pre‐selected by both exhibitor and buyer to maximise business – in this dedicated Japan event. Following the standard ILTM format, both buyers and exhibitors were required to follow a strict accreditation process so that it will participate.
Alison Gilmore, Exhibition Director, ILTM Portfolio commented: “ILTM Japan is the primary of our market specific events and was launched with two clear objectives: to introduce the international luxury travel agent to the trendy Japan of today – still considered an untapped luxury tourism destination – and to nurture an understanding of the culture of Japanese high-end travelers.”
According to a up to date study by the advance Bank of Japan, the choice of tourists visiting Japan from other Asian countries by 2017 is forecast to be 41 percent higher than last year’s total. The Japanese government is targeting an annual total of 25 millions foreign visitors by 2020.
“ILTM Japan has given us a beautiful opportunity to grow our network: we’ve got met with a major variety of decision makers representing our audience – high-end VIP visitors to Japan,” commented Hideharu Ohta, President of the Daishichi Sake Brewery in Japan.
Head of latest Product Development of the China International Travel Service at American Express, Benny Wang commented: “Being in Japan is an important experience and being here with ILTM is an additional bonus. I hadn’t realized the fervour Japanese suppliers have for his or her product – it’s a superb opportunity to be here.”
Roger Kershaw of Custom Travel Design, Canada added: “No matter how much i assumed I knew the rustic, it’s only at this primary edition of ILTM Japan that i’ve truly understood learn how to sell Japan to my clients. i’ve got learnt concerning the culture, the finesse, and the nuance of the culture, and that i will keep coming to the development in years to come as everybody I meet has something different to share.”
Veronica Rodriguez, Director of promoting at Turisme Barcelona, observed: “Japan is a gentle and significant market in Barcelona’s luxury sector. ILTM is a really committed and dependable partner in promoting Barcelona as a luxury destination and we were very keen for the exclusive opportunity to be a part of the primary edition of ILTM Japan. Now we have had a very good event, choked with quality meetings with active and attractive buyers.”
And Japanese buyer Tatsuya Masubuchi of Roots & Partners concluded: “ILTM Japan is astounding for both buyers and exhibitors because it matches us in step with our needs – it fits my business and our high-end clients who’re traveling globally. It’s great to have an ILTM event exclusively desirous about Japan.”