In September 2021, the Adventure Travel World Summit (ATWS) organised by the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) is scheduled to be held in Sapporo, Hokkaido. The World Summit is held every year as the main event of the adventure travel industry. Travel agents operating in the sector, and industry news media flock to the country where the summit is being held that year. Before the summit, tour operators in the host country offer delegates trips showcasing the best that the country offers. Shikoku Tours (CEO: Rod Walters, Japan Inbound) and other operators were invited by the summit organisers to plan a pre-summit trip in Shikoku.
For the last one and a half years, Rod Walters of Japan Inbound has been employed as a consultant to Omi Tourism Board (OTB) under the Tourism Agency’s Project for the Development of World-class DMOs. Omi Tourism Board is a DMO in Shiga formed of three cities and four towns. Based in Hikone, is manages the area east of Lake Biwa in Shiga, including Maibara and Omihachiman.
Web development
As a consultant, Rod was required to produce new web and tour content for the inbound tourism market, and to provide advice on the management of the DMO based on examples from the world’s leading DMOs. Rod recommended using a world-class DMS as a web platform, but since the funds were lacking, it was decided to build a new website based on ShikokuTours.com, which allows points of interest, folk of interest, tour content and so on to be combined freely. The new website is Visit-Omi.com. Since food is a major focus of OTB’s efforts, Rod interviewed many of the players in the local food and beverage industry. This is an effective way of personalising the tourism content of the region.
Tour development
Based on his experience running Shikoku Tours, an inbound travel agency in Shikoku, Rod advised adapting existing tours for Japanese customers so that their content can be understood by foreign customers. This approach is easy to implement, involves little risk, and is the fastest path to profitability. Rod developed new tours with a focus on the fascinating historic personalities that shaped Omi.
Rod also recommended making walking and cycling tours using audio guide apps such as VoiceMap and Ride with GPS.
Adventure travel
Given that the Adventure Travel World Summit will be held in Japan in 2021, and that the corona pandemic has led to a new focus on healthy outdoor activities, Rod recommended that OTB develop adventure travel products using the outstanding natural and cultural resources of the region.
Personnel development
In order to publicise the work of OTB and to encourage local, public participation in the tourism business, such as guiding, Rod established a concierge system. The first step is to ensure that people know about the tourism resources of their region. Rod made an examination with 100 questions. The answers can be found in the content at Visit-Omi.com. Anybody who can answer 80% of the questions correctly is probably qualified to work as a guide in the area. Rod planned to validate the system in cooperation with Hikone High School, but unfortunately, disruption at the school due to corona made it impossible to schedule.
Organisational recommendations
There are many subsidies available now for new websites, and the cities and towns participating in OTB wanted to make their own ‘homepages’. Rod was concerned that this would lead to the breakup of the DMO and recommended that they pool their resources and work on a single, high-quality DMO website. He also suggested organisational changes to give the participants a stronger voice and sense of belonging in the DMO.
In the time that Rod worked as a consultant, he laid the foundations for OTB’s future success as an inbound destination.
Shikoku Tours is a Ride with GPS Ambassador
Shikoku Tours CEO Rod Walters has been a keen cyclist for the thirty years he’s been in Japan. Back in the days before the Internet, Google Maps, and mobile phones, he estimated ride distances by arranging wet thread on a paper map and measuring it – not a very satisfactory procedure. Fortunately, technology has made strides since then, and today we have Ride with GPS, a very convenient app for planning and recording rides. You can use the app on mobile devices, PCs, and ride computers.
Continue reading “Shikoku Tours is a Ride with GPS Ambassador”
Inbound Consulting
Rod Walters of Japan Inbound is registered as a consultant with the national Japan Tourism Agency and is consulting to local governments and DMOs in Tokushima, Hokkaido, Okayama, Shiga and elsewhere.
Continue reading “Inbound Consulting”Imabari Photo School
On certain days of the year, the winter sun sets right between the pylons of the Kurushima Straits Bridge in Imabari. In 2018, this phenomenon will occur on Jan 20 (Sun).
Continue reading “Imabari Photo School”Nishi-Awa Fam Trip Interpreting
In September, Toa Travel based in Tokushima Prefecture hired Rod Walters of Japan Inbound as an interpreter for a fam trip in Nishi-Awa. Rod accompanied three influencers from web, newspaper and video media for three days, visiting the workation sites and satellite offices promoted by the Tokushima local government. Continue reading “Nishi-Awa Fam Trip Interpreting”
Shikoku Tours selected for METI subsidy
In collaboration with JR Shikoku and Iyogin Regional Economy Research Center, Shikoku Tours was selected by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (METI) to receive funds for establishing a network as a core regional business. The name of the project is “Welcome to Shikoku”.
Kikuma Bus Tour Spring 2018
Join us for a free bus tour around Kikuma. Take part in a local festival, visit a tile studio and try your hand at making tile art, and watch an esoteric Buddhist Goma fire ritual.
Kikuma Cycling Spring 2018
Join us for a free cycling tour around Kikuma. Meet the Otomouma horses, take part in a local festival, visit a tile studio and try your hand at making tile art, and watch an esoteric Buddhist Goma fire ritual.
Imabari Photo Trip
This year, the Imabari District Tourism Association has introduced a new Instagram category in its popular tourism photo contest. Following the successful Photo Trips last year, another trip is planned for 2018, on January 28 (Sun).