"The appreciation of the yen has a direct impact on our efforts for inviting international meetings and conventions to Japan," says Japan Convention Bureau (JCB), director Tetsuya Sato. "However, we have made efforts to keep convention related costs down."
Sato says one of these initiatives is the Japan convention travel packages produced by the JCB together with Japan Airlines (JL). The package includes air transportation, four nights accommodation and transfers.
Direct financial support is also provided by convention bureaus. "Many of the convention bureaus offer financial incentives to medium and large international conventions especially where the content is felt to be significant or is closely related to local goals," Sato says.
Japanese airlines provide special rates to overseas participants in international meetings and conventions. JL offers a "Welcome to Japan Fare" Ä half price on domestic airfare for overseas visitors.
All Nippon Airways and Air Nippon jointly offer "Visit Japan" which also provides a 50 per cent discount rate on domestic flights for passengers making a round trip to Japan on NH or ANK.
According to the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) the number of international meetings held in Japan last year reached 2,415, up by 11.6 per cent from 2,163 the year before.
The total number of attendees last year also climbed by almost 27 per cent. The number of overseas participants last year also rose by 14.6 per cent.
Tokyo continues to be the favourite site for conventions and international meetings, followed by Yokohama, Kyoto, and Kobe.
Sato says that Japan is the most important venue in Asia-Pacific for major international meetings.
"Japan attracts meetings and conventions by sheer size of economy, attitude of trade and academic institutions as well as high level of required facilities and services and also because of its abundant tourist attractions."