JIRO Local, Now

Hello, this is Jiro! In early February, we traveled to Kumamoto, Japan for a field visit. Drawing on insights from this trip, we interviewed KIKUCHI Shoko, Chief of General Affairs at the Kumamoto International Tourism & Convention Association (hereafter “the Association”), about how the MICE industry is contributing to regional revitalization in Kumamoto. The Association plays a central role in promoting the prefecture’s MICE sector by attracting international conferences, exhibitions, corporate events, and incentive travel programs. Notably, many of its staff members are either originally from Kumamoto or graduates of local universities, giving them a deep understanding of the region. So, let’s dive into what she shared with us. Large international conferences typically require major venues, accommodations, and strong transportation access, which is why they are often concentrated in city centers. To address this, the Association is working to build a region-wide hosting system ...

Hello! This is JIRO 🙂 It’s been a while since our last post—how have you all been? On December 29, JIRO attended the “2026 Inbound & Outbound Tourism Demand Forecast and Tourism Strategy Seminar” hosted by Yanolja Research, held at the aT Center in Yangjae, Seoul. This time, all members of the JIRO team were able to attend the seminar together. The venue was completely full—so much so that some members who arrived late had to stand throughout the session. The atmosphere was energetic and intense. Many local government officials were in attendance, and we could truly feel the passion of those working on the front lines to revitalize regional tourism. So, without further ado, let’s dive into what was discussed at the seminar—and what the outlook for tourism demand in 2026 looks like. Inbound Tourism: A Record High Expected To start with the conclusion: In 2026, inbound tourism to Korea (international visitors) is projected to reach 20.36 million visitors, an 8.7% increase year-on-ye...