In einem meiner Kurse geht es um Tourismus in Tohoku (=noerdlicher Part von Honshū, der groessten japanischen Insel). Mit der SWOT-Analyse sollten wir uns eine Uebersicht ueber die Region verschaffen. Was man nicht alles entdeckt…
Jesus Christus soll nicht am Kreuz gestorben sein… nein, anscheinend ist ein Juenger fuer ihn gestorben. Jesus selbst kam nach Japan und wurde Reisfarmer. Sein Grab kann man noch heute in dem Oertchen Shingō besuchen
Genial sind auch die “Fun to ride trains”. Dazu ist weiter unten ein Link fuer ein Youtube-Video zu finden.
2019/09/22
Strenght:
- Short distance to East Asian countries.
- Taiwanese especially in Oga. The most Taiwanese people have already seen the big Tourist attractions around Tokyo and Kyoto and come now to Tohoku region.
- Rural areas, Onsen, rich traditions such as Namahage.
- Efforts:
- Extraordinary Fun to ride trains.
- Destination campaign: JR East with host prefecture and local government focuses on advertising a specific area for three month.
- Improving facilities: free Wifi, customer service, English website…
- Promoting exploration and sightseeing with Taiwanese travel agencies and bloggers. Japan Rail Café in Singapore. Connecting with Universities such as AIU.
Weaknesses:
- Insufficient transportation linking tourist attractions.
- Most International airports are in the south. Tourists from the West do not travel so often to Japan because of the length and expenses of the flight and therefore visitors want to see the big Highlights such as Tokyo and Kyoto. -> Low percentage of foreign tourists.
- Unmotivated people in tourism industry.
- Sendai is the only northern city considered large.
- Small student discount for travelling
- Promotion is lacking in areas such as advertisement material and specific locations/ events.
Opportunities:
- 40 million visitors are expected for the Olympic Games. With good advertisement they could visit Tohoku.
- Fun to ride trains although full potential is lacking. Compare JR East`s advertisement “Your Journey on Train Suite Shiki-shima”- Youtubevideo with 7.972 views[1], a video showing the same train but called “JapaneseLuxury Train Suite Shiki-shima”[2] with 617,009 views. The difference is the smooth title and an available comment even suggests: “Would be nice to see that one in a James Bond Movie ;)”, 140 likes. Maybe inviting famous respectable YouTubers around the world to ride with specific trains to get attention from overseas.
- Promoting seasonal events (firework festival) as well as famous places (tomb of Jesus Christ) and traditions like Namahage. In Germany are two very similar figures like Namahage: Krampus and Knecht Ruprecht. Potential promotional material for German/ central European countries.
Threats:
- Ageing society and decreasing population in all of Tohoku.
- Shrinking inland tourism.
- Money spend by overseas tourists in transportation is decreasing from 2017 to 2018.
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emiRetdZI9A Sept. 20th 2019
[2] Old video was not available anymore. Here is another impression: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5erukCyqb0 Sept. 20th 2019
martinaroundtheworld 