The Courier-Mail in Brisbane says that says that plunging tourism numbers from Japan have prompted Tourism Australia to expand its promotional efforts.
The Japanese version of the Where The Bloody Hell Are You advertisement, which uses the slogan “So why don’t you come?” has been unable to reverse poor visitation figures, with tourism numbers down 9.2% in the past six months.
Australian tourism from Japan has been hard hit by the rising Australian dollar and bargain holidays in China.
Tourism Australia MD Geoff Buckley said tactical moves would be used to try and improve numbers, saying, “The ‘So Where the Bloody Hell Are You’ campaign has been successful and will continue in Japan,” adding that tactical initiatives such as the visiting journalists program would woo more Japanese visitors.
Federal Tourism Minister Fran Bailey said she was concerned about the Japanese market and wanted Tourism Australia to target school excursions, business events and sports groups in Japan.
The Mole will be reporting live and on location from Australian Tourism Exchange 2007 in Brisbane at the end of the month and will be also interviewing Minister Fran Bailey and CEO Geoff Buckley for TraveMole, so watch this space!
Report by the Mole
