Jennifer Jones (holding flag) and Sheri Foreman (far right) with their famil group, pictured in front of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome)
Japan may be only one-twentieth the size of Australia but it punches well above its weight for cultural, historical and gastronomic diversity.
Two personal travel managers (PTMs) are now more confident in selling this destination to their clients, thanks to invitations from Japan Holidays to participate in a seven-day famil hosted by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO).
Jennifer Jones is TravelManagers’ representative for Wahroonga on Sydney’s upper north shore. She said her clients are already benefiting from her new-found knowledge of Japan.
“Having had the opportunity to experience first-hand what Japan has to offer, I can now suggest various experiences in certain cities, from a three-hour bike and kimono experience in Kyoto, to a sushi-making lesson in Tokyo.”
Jones says she was surprised and impressed by the diversity of experience available to visitors.
“I would have no problem recommending Japan to anyone because I could provide honeymooners with a different set of experiences to a history buff or a family,” she said.
Sheri Foreman, representative for Eagle Heights in the Gold Coast hinterland, also participated in the famil. She said clients who are anxious about the language barrier or personal safety have nothing to fear.
“I felt genuinely welcomed to Japan. The feeling of personal safety and level of courtesy were even higher than I had expected.”
Both PTMs found the people to be very friendly and obliging, and said Japan is also very kid-friendly, so it suits the family market.
They both said a visit to Hiroshima was a special highlight of their trip.
“Hiroshima leaves you with a deeper understanding and compassion for the Japanese people and their level of suffering as a result of the dropping of the atomic bomb,” said Foreman.
“I would like to visit Japan again in all four seasons as I believe each will provide an entirely different experience. I’m excited to start sharing what I’ve seen with my clients.”
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