The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) is partnering with Princess Cruises to host approximately 140 of Ensemble Travel Group's top travel agents, suppliers and guests on a May 18-25 cruise exploring some of Japan's lesser-known ports.
Ensemble Travel Group generates yearly sales of over $1 billion and consists of more than 850 travel companies serving affluent travelers throughout the United States and Canada. As part of the partnership, JNTO will be hosting shore excursions in Kobe, Kochi, Hiroshima, Matsuyama and Miyazaki.
Of the record 1.52 million U.S. tourists who visited Japan in 2018, cruise travelers accounted for 3.3 percent, which JNTO says is a significantly higher percentage than European and Australian markets. JNTO and Princess Cruises hopes inviting travel agents will increase the sale of cruises to Japan, specifically in the lesser-known Kansai, Chugoku, Shikoku and Kyushu regions.
JNTO is the official tourism board of Japan involved in several promotional activities. The company says 30 million tourists, a record number, visited Japan in 2018.
Part of Carnival Corporation, Princess Cruises has been selling Japan sailings aboard the Diamond Princess since 2016. The Diamond Princess was built exclusively to sail around Japan. It has a capacity of 2,706 passengers. Princess Cruises says it is bringing in more foreign passengers to Japan than any other cruise company.
For more information, visit https://www.jnto.go.jp/
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