By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 30: Sarawak Tourism Board (STB), in collaboration with Tourism Malaysia, participated in the Tourism Expo Japan (TEJ) 2024 at Tokyo Big Sight from September 26 to 29.
In a statement today, it said that this year’s participation marked STB’s third year at TEJ, reinforcing its commitment to the Japanese market.
Following the expo, STB held a post-engagement session with key Japanese tourism players today at Dai-ichi Hotel Tokyo to further strengthen relationships and explore future collaborations to boost Sarawak’s presence in Japan.
Organised by the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA), TEJ has been recognised as the largest travel expo in Japan since its inception in 2014.
The expo brings together exhibitors and visitors from around the world, providing a platform for industry professionals to showcase destinations and engage in meaningful business discussions.
“Japan is a key market for Sarawak within the North Asia region, contributing significantly to the growth of visitor arrivals.
“As of August 2024, Sarawak saw a 21 per cent rise in visitor arrivals from Japan compared to the same period in 2023,” said the statement.
It added that Sarawak’s focus on sustainable development and green energy resonates with the Japanese market’s priorities, making it a significant area of interest for Sarawak.
Both regions actively advocate for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with STB focusing on SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
“This mutual focus strengthens the connection between Sarawak and Japan, fostering a favourable environment for collaboration and tourism growth.”
During the event, the STB conducted two days of pre-scheduled Business-to-Business (B2B) sessions with Japanese tourism players on September 26 and 27.
“These meetings provided an excellent opportunity for the board to establish new partnerships, strengthen existing relationships, and gain valuable market insights through a market intelligence survey,” said the statement.
The last two days, September 28 and 29, were dedicated to Business-to-Consumer (B2C) sessions, allowing the public to explore Sarawak’s offerings and engage with the destination directly.
The event concluded with the post-engagement session at Dai-ichi Hotel Tokyo, where Sarawak’s product updates were shared, future collaborations were discussed, continuous growth was ensured, and a shared commitment to sustainable and responsible tourism was reflected.
Sarawak’s participation in the Tourism Expo Japan 2024 not only showcased its diverse tourism offerings but also reinforced its position as a unique and sustainable destination for Japanese travellers. — DayakDaily
