All Things Travel: New England States Expecting Good Tourism Seasons
BOSTON (CBS) - Don't overfeed the Japanese tourists and make sure that your hotel accommodations offer double beds.
That was the advice given by Shoko Hirao to people attending the Discover New England Summit concluding Wednesday at Boston's Park Plaza Hotel.
Hirao runs Global Consulting in Wayland that represents The Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism for Far East marketing. She spoke to New England attractions and tour operators at the 17th DNE Summit.
Over 400 people attended the three-day event that rotates its location among the six New England states yearly in the spring. It is the primary group to attract international visitors to the region. Their headquarters are in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
Boston will get its first non-stop flights from Logan Airport to Tokyo on April 22 on Japan Airlines.
"Relaxing is not a definition of a vacation," said Hirao in her seminar. "The Japanese like to keep moving and the visitors will be usually over 60 years of age. Their dream is to travel."
The Japanese book their vacations about 60 days in advance, usually through travel agents. Package tours account for 50.7 percent of the visitors. They will waste little time upon arriving in Boston about 11 a.m. Many will board a bus at Logan Airport for a four-hour tour of Boston and Cambridge before checking in their hotel.
It is expected that the arriving tourists will also visit New York and Washington by Amtrak train on their week-long visit to the northeast.
New England states' tourism directors are predicting a good economic season. High gas prices may keep people closer to home.
Mark Brodeur, Director of Tourism for Rhode Island, indicated that the warmer weather had boosted web site hits by 30 percent to date this year over 2011.
Maine predicts that an increase in Canadian visitors and the success of the Downeaster train to Maine ad campaign was attracting more visitors. That service will continue in the late fall in Freeport, where L.L. Bean is celebrating its 100th Anniversary this year.
The Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism has rolled out a new "Ask A Local" iPhone free application now available on iTunes.
The Discover New England group presented a special award to Larry Meehan, Vice President Media Relations & Tourism Sales for The Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau. A 32-year veteran of the CVB, Meehan received a standing ovation at the Tuesday luncheon.
Bob Weiss reports on business travel on Mondays at 5:55 a.m. on WBZ NewsRadio 1030.
