Japan sports a new spirit: a healthy budget helps the JNTO promote Japan around the world. (Destination: Pacific/Asia).

Travel Agent, June, 2003 by Ruggia, James

There's a new spirit that's apparent in travel brochures across the country. The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) is paying special attention to lifting Japan's profile in the marketplace, and is sees tour operators and a soon-to-be-upgraded promotional budget as the ticket. Kunio Kishimoto, executive director of the JNTO office in New York, says that last spring's United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) board meeting was very successful for the Japanese. "With so many tour operators coming to Japan, they got a chance to see Japan in its best light," says Kishimoto.

Indeed, land operators, hoteliers, the Japan Travel Bureau and the JNTO did everything they could to display Japan's strongest offerings. In a nutshell, Japan offers impressive...