National Japan Host program upskilling tourism businesses for future international markets

28 September 2020 - MEDIA RELEASE

While tourism businesses across Australia are right now holding out for a return of domestic visitors, the Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) in partnership with Tourism Australia is offering tourism businesses the chance to build their knowledge of the Japan market in anticipation of future international visitors.
 
The successful Japan Host program was launched in 2019 and was developed in partnership with Japan’s leading travel wholesalers, Japan Yonshakai.  Originally rolled out in Western Australia in partnership with Tourism WA, the program will now be offered nationally thanks to the support  of Tourism Australia with online workshops beginning in Queensland this October.
 
“The Japan Host delivers a commercially viable program endorsed by industry leaders in the Japanese travel trade, so it offers a great start point for Australian tourism businesses looking to engage with Japanese travellers in the future,” ATEC Managing Director Peter Shelley said.
 
“While tourism businesses across Australia are eagerly looking forward to getting back to full operations, now is the time for them to be looking forward and investing in building their capacity and capability for the future.”
 
Tourism Australia Managing Director Phillipa Harrison said the new Japan Host training program provided a good opportunity during enforced down time for Australian tourism businesses to ready themselves for the future.
 
“Prior to COVID-19, Japan was one of our fastest growing inbound markets and we expect Japanese visitors to return in good numbers once international travel resumes.
 
“For a modest outlay and small investment of time, Australian tourism operators can gain some excellent insights into this important market, which they’ll almost certainly be able to turn to their commercial advantage.”
 
Japan Host is offered as a series of four, 90min online workshop modules including Culture Ready, Service Ready, Product Ready and Trade Ready.  Attendees receive the Japan Host Handbook along with tools and resources to assist in developing their product to welcome Japanese visitors.
 
“Tourism businesses who complete Japan Host will be confident they are fully capable of understanding the cultural needs of the Japanese visitor along with COVID Safe needs and will be able to work with both the Japanese trade and consumers.
 
Graduates will receive digital badging to display their market readiness.  Registrations and dates for workshops across the country are available here: https://www.atec.net.au/training-&-development/japan-host/