Japan launched a comprehensive campaign for the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) industry. Along with the tourism campaign, the Japan Tourism Agency set the Japan MICE Year to appeal Japan as MICE-friendly destination as well as further promotion to the international MICE market. The Japan MICE Year is launched with the logo and a theme that reads “Japan, a Global Crossroads,” which also positions Japan as the crossroad of the East and West as well as intellectual exchanges. This promotion plays a driving force for appealing Japan’s superior MICE environment, human resource development and skills on the domestic MICE market, and expanding domestic conferences to international function.

According to the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), Japan has been ranked in eighth place for the world’s best conference destinations in 2008, and in first place among Asian destinations. In addition, Future Brand, a company releasing annual country brand index, ranked Japan as the No. 1 country in 2009 for authenticity and conference destination and night life.

Japan’s major cities are already promoting themselves as conference destinations, introducing conference facilities, large-sized dining spaces and cultural attractions. Yokohama has built a solid recognition as international convention city, and has decided to subsidy up to 10 million yen ($100,000) for implementation of high level of hospitality for both conference organizers and participants. And the most popular tourism destination, Kyoto, issued the policy to include development of international conference venues and reinforcement of infrastructure.

For more information, visit www.japantravelinfo.com.  http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/