Yukon’s MLAs unanimously passed a motion Wednesday to organize a tourism trade mission to Asia.
The goal is “to realize the significant potential of Asian markets to Yukon’s tourism industry and facilitate partnerships between government and industry that will benefit Yukon’s tourism industry.”
The trade mission is scheduled for February.
It will be a mission to Japan that will also “include access to other parts of the Asian marketplace, which includes countries like China, an under-served, emerging market with vast promise for growth,” MLA Darius Elias said when introducing the motion.
Businesses have until Dec. 15 to apply.
Tourism Minister Mike Nixon said he sees significant potential in the Asian market.
“The objective of the February 2015 mission is to increase Japanese visits to Yukon. The Japanese component of the mission will include group travel trade events in Osaka and Tokyo with Yukon tourism businesses and key Japanese tour operators,” he said.
According to Nixon, Japan is Yukon’s fourth-largest overseas market, with more than 3,800 Japanese visitors in 2013, representing more than nine per cent of overseas visitors.
“Many of the major Japanese tour operators are now in development of summer and fall Yukon products. It is our government’s desire to help all operators to grow their winter visitor numbers significantly. We are continuing to support trade marketing campaigns, which will position Yukon as a premier aurora-viewing destination with the Japanese trade.”