AIME AIME Preview 2018 | Page 14

20-21 JAPAN’S NEW IDEAS ON SHOW J apan’s unique culture and advanced technology, together with the opportunity for interaction with Japanese academic, business and industrial community, will be on show at AIME 2018. Fresh from enhancing their branding campaign, ‘Japan. Meetings & Events - New ideas start here’, Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) is keen to highlight Japan’s advantage as an innovative and exciting business events destination. More and more highly respected international organisations are choosing Japan to host their key events. Japan will host the 2019 Rugby World Cup and the following year will bring the Olympic and Paralympic Games to Tokyo. These global events are attracting increased attention from all sectors of the meetings industry, including IAPCO, which recently held its general meeting in Tokyo. “We should take this great opportunity to promote Japan as a business events destination, so that even more events and meetings will visit Japan after 2020,” said Etsuko Kawasaki, executive director of Japan Convention Bureau. Throughout the campaign, JNTO will closely collaborate with international industry associations including MPI and PCMA to reach prominent professionals in the industry, while implementing a new digital marketing strategy across social media platforms including LinkedIn. This campaign will continue for three years and is expected to contribute toward achieving the ambitious governmental target that Japan will become the No. 1 destination in Asia by 2030. In Australia, JNTO is planning to hold a Networking Function on Friday, February 23, at the Sydney Seafood School, with 30 MICE buyers getting some tips on making sushi and sashimi salad before seven sellers from Japan give a “New Idea” presentation on their new MICE products. Meeting planners can find planning tips and ideas, plus experience how exciting and inspirational Japan can be through JNTO’s new website.