Japan released its preliminary inbound visitor numbers indicating that by end December 2015, it should reach 19,737,400. This is a 47.1% increase compared to 2014 and the highest ever recorded.
Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) cited that its continuous promotional efforts were one of the factors contributing to the increase in visitors.
JNTO has reported that 308,800 visitors flew in from Singapore which is a 35.5% increase from the year before. Singapore is currently ninth in place for the global visitor market for Japan with more than 70% repeating visitors.
In 2015, the highest number of visitors came from South Korea (4.002 million), China (4.995 million), Taiwan (3.677 million), Hong Kong (1.524 million) and USA (1.033 million) visitors. The biggest increase in percentage came from China with 107.3% over the year before.
Read our story about Hokkaido and also about our paragliding experience.
JNTO and Singapore Tourism Board will drive greater awareness of both countries’ popular destinations and build stronger two-way tourism traffic in a memorandum of cooperation signed on 18 January 2016. This is a first between both organisations which also marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Singapore.
A tourism logo has been jointly developed featuring Hello Kitty and Dori-tan, symbolising the good bilateral friendship between Japan and Singapore. Hello Kitty represents ‘Cool Japan’ while Dori-tan represents a five-year-old Singaporean boy who loves Durian and Merlion, and used to live with his family in Japan.
A local food fair will be organised in both countries to kickstart this partnership. Over 20 Singapore restaurants will be participating in the Singapore Food Fair held in Japan from 1 February to 15 March 2016. Hainanese Chicken Rice, Chilli Crab, Bak Ku Teh and other Singapore local food will be served.
Japanese Restaurant Week in Singapore
From 24 February to 8 March 2016, over 80 Japanese restaurants will participate in the Japanese Restaurant Week in Singapore. This is the fifth Japanese Restaurant Week since its inception in 2013 in Singapore as well as in Shanghai, Taiwan, Bangkok and Hong Kong.
Diners at Japanese Restaurant Week in Singapore will stand a chance to take part in a lucky draw at https://sg.sushiandsake.net/jrwsg/. The first prize (Prize A) is a free return ticket to Japan on All Nippon Airways, and a tour that showcases the attractiveness of regional Japanese foods. Other prizes include five sets of Hello Kitty and Doritan Doll Set, five sets of Oyster, 10 sets of lucky bag and 100 original Japanese hand towel Tenugui.
Gurunavi, in collaboration with JNTO and H.I.S. ANA Navigation Japan Co,. Ltd. (“HAnavi”), will also present tours highlighting Japan’s greatest attraction ーFood. Tours were created based on the four main themes of regional Japanese foods with 21 routes featuring the famous delicacies of Hokkaido, Niigata, Tokyo, Ishikawa, Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Ehime, and Okinawa. Working with the Visit Japan Campaign, JNTO and Gurunavihave set up a special website introducing the travel spots, food culture and restaurants of the destinations. Through HAnavi, you can book tours at a special price.
If you are visiting Japan, then you would want to download these coupons from gourmet restaurants here.
Raffles Singapore has partnered Dassai, one of Japan’s top sake brands to craft “Sakura Sling”, a cocktail symbolic of the strong relationship between the two countries. Sakura Sling is a blend of Dassai 50 Sake, Calvados and the floral notes of St Germain Elderflower liqueur. It will be available at the hotel’s dining establishments from February.
