Speaking of goals for the new year… how about 4.6+ million dollars of new tourism?
One of my big things last year was to share the opportunity that our new San Diego – Japan connection brings to our tourism businesses.
Japanese tourism is on the rise in San Diego
Here’s why I think this is so important…
VisitCalifornia.com reports that, “Japan remains California’s third-largest overseas market with 590,000 visitors in 2012, with projections for 2013 up 3.3 percent. (= 609,470)
On average, Japanese travelers to the Golden State stay 7.6 days and spend $1,969 per visitor per trip ($259 per day).
Collectively, visitors from Japan spend $1.2 billion, making Japan California’s second-biggest overseas spending market after China.”
http://industry.visitcalifornia.com/media/uploads/files/editor/Japan-13_14.pdf
The good news is that since the launch of the DreamLiner last June, the returns have been even better than earlier projections.
“+8.2% in July, +3.4% in August and 4.7% in September. New non-stop flights to San Jose, San Diego and Denver have pushed up demand.”
http://industry.visitcalifornia.com/media/uploads/files/editor/July%20Japan%20Report.pdf
According to Japan Airlines, they are now flying at 89% capacity.
That means that there are an estimated 5,850 Asian tourists arriving in San Diego each month.
At $259 per day times 7.6 days that equals $11,515,140 per month.
But even with all of this revenue potential, people are still pretty much in the dark about what Japanese tourists are looking for in their time in sunny San Diego.
Here’s a great survey that should help to demystify the subject
Survey Results
Q. What was a motivating factor for your travel to the U.S. West Coast?
1. Shopping 47% (average 43%)
2. City strolling 41% (average 41%)
3. Visiting attractions 36% (average 45%)
4. Dining 31% (average 48%)
5. Great Nature 27% (average 17%)
Q. What did you actually do there?
1. Sightseeing
2. Theme parks
3. Visiting attractions
4. Art, culture, musical, concert, show
5. Dining
Q. Who did you travel with?
1. Couple 32% (average 29%)
2. Alone 24% (average 13%)
3. Family including kids 15% (average 12%)
4. Friends (more than 3) 7% (average 11%)
5. Friends 6% (average 11%)
Did you notice what happened to the topic of Shopping?
It looks like it simply vanished.
To me, that means two things.
1. There is a lot of potential there.
2. When these travelers get here we aren’t inviting them into our stores.
Below, I’ve included a few easy email templates that you can use to do just that.
Put these on your website or on other social media sites to build search relevance for your business or send them to your Japanese customers to keep in touch.
By doing so you will be helping me meet my goal of educating people on this opportunity and hopefully building a marketing advantage that will benefit your business for years to come.
All I ask is that if you get some good results – please let me know.
I’d love to hear your feedback as I’m sure would everybody else.
All the best to you and yours,
Jeremiah Magone
Google
Easy emails for doing business with Japanese tourists
Email for 1 time visitors
Dear _ex. John Smith-Sama (You can use “customer” if you don’t know the person’s name)
Thank you for (A. visiting our store. B. staying at our hotel, C. enjoying our park, D. enjoying a beautiful evening at our venue, E. dining with us). We’re getting more and more Japanese visitors these days and, to show our appreciation, we would like to give you a %%%off coupon for your next visit. If you post this coupon code through your social media, we will even double its value the next time you come in our doors. Just share your experience at our (A. store, B. hotel, C. park, D. venue, E. restaurant) friends, and show us that post the next time we see you. We’re looking forward to serving you again!
Sincerely,
_____________
(A. Owner, B. President, C. Manager, D. Staff member)
(Company name)
(Contact details)
(Twitter account, social media, etc.)
Email for 1 time visitors
_ex.John Smith様（お客様のお名前がわからない場合は、「お客様」とお書きください）
我々の（A.お店へお越しいただき、Bホテルに宿泊いただき、C.施設へお越しいただき、D.会場での素敵な夜を満喫していただき、E.レストランでお食事をしていただき、）ありがとうございます。
日本人のお客様が増えています事への感謝の気持ちとして、次回ご訪問されます時のため%%%オフのクーポンをお渡ししたいと思います。このクーポンコードをお客様がソーシャルメディアを通して投稿された場合、クーポンの割引額を倍にさせていただきます。お友達に我々の（A.お店、B.ホテル、C.施設、D.会場、E.レストラン）での体験を是非シェアしてください。そして、その投稿を次回お会いする時に我々のスタッフにお見せください。またのご来店をお待ちしております！
敬具
_____________
（A.オーナー、B.社長、C.マネージャー、D.スタッフ）
（会社名）
（連絡先の詳細）
（ツイッター、ソーシャルメディアのアカウント等）
Invitation for new customers
Our (A. Spring, B. Summer, C. Fall, D. Winter) campaign is in full swing.
We are offering %%% off on all (A. merchandise, B. tours, C. Rooms, D. tickets, E. Selected items, F. meals). Please see some pictures of our new (A. inventory, B. Locations, C. Suits, D. tours, E. Dishes) here!
{Photos here}
Hurry, this campaign ends (A. Januaray, B. February, C. March, D. April, E. May, F. June, G. July, H. August, I. September, J. October. K. November, L. December) ……. day, 2013.
It’s easy to get to get here by bus. Just take bus #…… from ……………………station. (transfer at ………………. For bus #…….. .)
Only……… minutes from downtown. We are located at (address)(Phone number).
Invitation for new customers
（A.春、B.夏、C.秋、D.冬）のキャンペーン実施中です。
全ての（A.商品、B.ツアー、C.お部屋、D.チケット、E.セレクトアイテム、F.お食事）が%%%オフです。新しい（A.商品、B.ロケーション、C.スィート、D.ツアー、E.メニュー）のお写真を是非ご覧ください
{写真をこちらに}
このキャンペーンは（A. 1月、B. 2月、C. 3月、D. 4月、E. 5月、F. 6月、G. 7月、H. 8月、I. 9月、J. 10月、K. 11月、L. 12月）……日までですので、お急ぎください。
ご来店の際、バスを利用される事をお勧めします。…番バスを……駅から乗ってください。（….番バスの場合は……でお乗換えください）
ダウンタウンから……..分。当店は（住所）（電話番号）に位置しております。
Email to keep in touch
We just wanted to get back in touch with you to say “Thank you” for visiting us last time.
Here are some new pictures that we’ve just added to our photo gallery.
{pictures}
You should also know that starting next (Month – options A-L, above) we will be having a
(A. 2-for-1 promotion on all entrees, B. 50% off sale on selected items, C. couples only special, D. 60% special appreciation coupon,E. %%% discount on all purchases over $$$, F. 2-for-1 deal, good on all ((1. Merchandise, 2. Tours, 3. Reservations)) over $$$)
for all returning customers.
Just save this mail and show it to our staff the next time you’re in town.
Thanks again, and we hope that you had a great time with us on your last visit.
(A. With warm regards, B. Sincerely, C. Yours truly, D. All the best,)
{Name}
{Company name}
{Website, social network}
{Physical address and phone number}
{Sign up for our newsletter! – Click here – }
Email to keep in touch
今回はお越しいただき誠にありがとうございました。
我々のフォトギャラリーに新しく写真を追加いたしましたので、是非ご覧ください。
{写真}
そして、（月、オプションは上に記載されたA-Lから選択）には再度お越しいただいたお客様全員に（A. 全ての前菜一品分のご料金で二品ご提供、B. セレクトアイテム50%オフと、C.カップルでお越しの際は特別サービスと、D. 60%オフの感謝クーポンをご提供、E. $$$以上のお買い上げの場合%%%オフと、F. （1. 商品、2. ツアー、3. 予約）$$$以上お買い上げの場合一つのお値段で二つご提供）させていただきます。
このメールを保存、またはプリントしたものをスタッフにお見せください。
またお会いできる日を楽しみにしております。
{お名前}
{会社名}
{ウェブページ、ソーシャルネットワーク}
{住所、電話番号}
{ニュースレターへの登録！- こちらをクリック – }
Use these emails and surprise your Japanese customers, and don’t be surprised when they visit you on their next trip or refer their friends!
