CLIENT: DMO Nagasaki / Kyushu Hakuhodo
WORK: Selected Project
In FY2024, we were honoured to be invited to support numerous tourism initiatives across Japan. Among them, one key engagement was the Nagasaki Sustainable Tourism Project, where our primary responsibilities included:
- Advisory Services Focused on the Western Market
Providing expert input on tour development explicitly tailored to travellers from Europe, North America, and Australia. - Planning and Execution of Guide Training Seminars
Organising and delivering seminars to cultivate skilled local guides capable of serving international visitors effectively. - Planning and Execution of FAM Tours
Curating familiarisation tours for overseas travel agents and domestic DMCs to promote Nagasaki’s tourism potential.
These activities aimed to further refine the region’s tourism offerings and enhance its appeal to international markets.
Nagasaki is well known for prominent tourist attractions such as the Atomic Bomb Museum, Glover Garden, and Dejima. However, with the recent increase in international cruise ship arrivals and the expansion of global hotel chains, there is an urgent need to reassess what makes Nagasaki unique.
Nagasaki’s daily culture—its natural landscapes, climate, lifestyle, and deeply rooted customs—remains largely hidden from foreign visitors. Despite being a city with rich traditions and history, it continues to exhibit a surprising degree of insularity. Currently, very few opportunities exist for overseas guests to engage with the everyday life of the region.
True sustainable tourism is not merely about attracting larger numbers of international tourists. It must also focus on developing products that meet visitor expectations while preserving the distinctive identity of Nagasaki.
In this project, we provided support based on this perspective. However, the complexity of building sustainable tourism means that it cannot be achieved solely through the creation of a tour product in the short term.
Key challenges that must be addressed include:
- Establishing robust operational systems rooted in trust with local suppliers
- Balancing content delivery with target market expectations
- Harmonising promotion with operational capacity
- Training guides to meet the specific needs of international markets
The project is expected to continue in collaboration with various companies and governmental bodies in the coming fiscal year. We remain committed to contributing to the growth of Kyushu’s profile as a destination and supporting the development of Nagasaki’s tourism in a sustainable and meaningful way.
OUTPUT:
- Advisory on product development tailored to Western markets
- Planning and execution of guide training seminars
- Planning and implementation of FAM tours with overseas agents and domestic DMCs
