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Japan and Hong Kong to push agent training programmes at WTM

The Japanese Tourist Organisation will be promoting its new online agent training programme launched as part of its strategy to increase worldwide visitor arrivals from 6.3 million to 10 million by 2010.

Free copies of the Essential Japan programme, covering everything from getting there to traditions, will be available.

Visitor numbers to Japan were up 9% in 2006, with strong growth from France, Sweden, Finland and Portugal, but the UK is the strongest European source market for Japan, with 216,476 arrivals in 2006.

The family and winter sports markets have been key growth areas and the tourist board will continue to promote the ‘Cool Japan: Fusion with Tradition’ campaign, launched last year to highlight the country’s modern side.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board will also be demonstrating its Hong Kong Specialist online training programme. More than 800 agents have registered as Hong Kong Specialists in the 12 months since the programme launched.

Qualified agents receive official identification as a Hong Kong Specialist as well as dedicated sales support. The HKTB will also highlight Hong Kong’s role in next year’s Olympic Games in China, which it hopes will help to build on the 20% growth in UK visitor numbers in the first eight months of this year.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board: stand AS6200
Japan National Tourist Organisation: stand AS2200

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