SCANDINAVIAN TOURIST BOARD
2010 Scandinavian Workshop Reception
Tokyo Dome Hotel, 1 October 2010
Managing Director Leerskov, Japanese and Scandinavian Friends,
It is an honour and pleasure for me to have this opportunity to say a few words of congratulation on yet another successful Scandinavian Workshop today, where old contacts have been renewed and new co-operative contacts established. And where at this stage of the evening, we are all looking forward to some well-deserved good food and drink that will inspire further discussions and brainstorming new plans. I especially want to congratulate the Scandinavian Tourist Board on their work here in Japan since we last met a year ago.
The STB is an active partner in the “Team Norway” established by the Embassy here in Japan. “Team Norway” met just two days ago to exchange information on activities for the rest of this year and to discuss plans for next year. Other Team Norway partners are Innovation Norway and The Norwegian Seafood Export Council that operate under official Embassy umbrella, as well as the Norway – Japan Society and the Norwegian Chamber of Commerce in Japan and SAS. What we can do together as a Team really enhances our individual performances. Together, we can deliver a total product that is greater than just adding our individual performances.
Enhancing individual performances by working together also applies to what we in fact have here this evening: a “Team Scandinavia” for travel and tourism.
As I did at last year’s event, let me pay special tribute to the Japanese tourist. Both as individuals and in group. Over the past year, they have defended well their position as the best-behaved of all nationalities that visit our country. Also in quantity, Japanese guest nights in Norway the first half of the year are up by 14% compared to the same period in 2009. We want this trend to continue. And for that to happen, we rely on the good efforts of all of you.
Thanks to Japanese travel industry and also Scandinavian Airlines, there were a total of nine flights directly from Narita to Norway this year - seven to Bergen, and two to Northern Norway. It would be nice to have more. We hope that Norway and Japan in the near future will be connected directly with scheduled flights.
Norway is a country powered by nature. A traveler to Norway will be enthralled by the world famous fjords of Western Norway, the foremost tourist destination in the World according to the prestigious magazine “National Geographic”. And we can offer much more. The Northern Lights dancing in the Arctic skies of Northern Norway, also known as “God’s fireworks”, and of course the Midnight Sun. In our bustling capital city of Oslo, it is just a stone’s throw away to walks in the woods in summer or a skiing trip in winter. And a dip in the fjord, summer or winter depending on how brave you are.
We want many more Japanese tourists to experience the power of Norwegian nature and to make new personal friendships with Norwegians.
With these words, let me wish you all success in your future endeavors and I am sure you will have wonderful and happy evening.