InsideJapan is to host another virtual tour for the trade as it prepares for the destination to reopen to travel in 2022.
The specialist tour operator started live virtual tours in March this year, using the help of its Japan-based tour leaders, for both consumers and the trade. They have been watched by thousands of people since launch.
A final trade tour for 2021, the Virtually InsideJapan tour, will aim to help travel agent partners ensure they are ready for what it is hoped will be a busy peak sales period from January 2022.
The tour will be filmed at Kamakura, a seaside temple town and ancient capital, which can be visited as a day trip from Tokyo. It will feature live questions and answers.
Inside Travel Group trade sales and marketing manager Matthew Spiller said: ““This particular trade-specific tour be a chance for agent partners to get an idea of what life is currently like in Japan, to get interesting insight into the culture and to see the sort of thing clients will get on a small group tour or fully tailored self-guided adventure.
“The live Q&A with myself, business development manager Andrew Tait and Tokyo-based Insider tour leader Brett Plotz will be the chance for agents to ask anything about the country, the culture and how we work with the trade.”
The free live trade event is on December 1 at 9.30am for an hour. Agents need to sign up in advance to join.
The operator has so far sold 55% of its tour places for 2022 and plans to release its 2023 tour dates in early December.
Spiller added: “We know Japan is on travel bucket lists for 2022-2023 and that agents are currently extremely busy so we want to make sure the virtual event is just as informative and useful as it is entertaining.”
The operator also runs live guided tours for consumers and has one taking place from Kamakura on December 9.