Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) staged three successful agent events in Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland recently, facilitating educational and networking opportunities among 28 Japanese suppliers and a total of 346 travel advisors.
JNTO, with Linkd Tourism, showcased the top suppliers from across Japan who networked with agents over Japanese cuisine and entertainment before formal appointments for more in-depth information.
Japanese suppliers included representatives from tourism organisations, hotels, rail and touring.
Destinations featured included Okinawa Tourism, Kyushu Tourism Organisation and Fukuoka Prefecture Tourism Association, some of which also staged separate events.
![Culture, cuisine & connection: 28 Japanese suppliers head Down Under for JNTO roadshows 1 JNTO Appointments with Japanese suppliers](https://karryon.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/JNTO_Appointments-with-Japanese-suppliers.jpg)
![Culture, cuisine & connection: 28 Japanese suppliers head Down Under for JNTO roadshows 2 JNTO Traditional shamisen performance](https://karryon.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/JNTO_Traditional-shamisen-performance.jpg)
![Culture, cuisine & connection: 28 Japanese suppliers head Down Under for JNTO roadshows 3 JNTO Apartment Hotel Mimaru](https://karryon.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/JNTO_Apartment-Hotel-Mimaru.jpg)
In Australia, agents also heard from MyTravelResearch.com CEO Carolyn Childs, who shared consumer insight and travel trends, and enjoyed traditional entertainment with a shamisen performance from Noriko Tadano.
Two advisors from each city also won a Japanese cooking class for two. Sydney’s winners were Luke Watts (TravelManagers) and Thao Lai (Departures) while the Brisbane competition recipients were Lea Tuifua (Flight Centre) and Kristina de Nicolai (Pulse Travel).
In Auckland, the winners were Natalia Skachkova (Manase Travel Studio) and Kamani Pillay (Flight Centre).
![Culture, cuisine & connection: 28 Japanese suppliers head Down Under for JNTO roadshows 4 JNTO Naoki Kitazawa Executive Director of JNTO centre with delegates from Kintetsu International](https://karryon.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/JNTO_Naoki-Kitazawa-Executive-Director-of-JNTO-centre-with-delegates-from-Kintetsu-International-Express.jpg)
![Culture, cuisine & connection: 28 Japanese suppliers head Down Under for JNTO roadshows 5 JNTO Kathleen Olive Limelight Arts Travel Chantal Simms and Jackie Colonnelli Academy Travel and Jackie](https://karryon.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/JNTO_Kathleen-Olive-Limelight-Arts-Travel-Chantal-Simms-and-Jackie-Colonnelli-Academy-Travel-and-Jackie_.jpg)
Due to popular demand, JNTO will run two more Australian roadshows in Sydney and Perth next year.
Advisors can register for the Sydney event on 5 February 2024 and in Perth on 7 February 2024.
JNTO also staged its first-ever Japan Travel Fair in Sydney earlier this year.