Message from Mie Prefecture
Toshio Hamada
Deputy Director General,
Department of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries Commerce and Industry Mie Prefecture
Let me welcome you one and all to Mie Prefecture. I am pleased beyond words that the Asian-Pacific Tourism Exchange Center has selected Mie to host one of their International Tourism Workshops.
With so many people here from outside of the prefecture, Mie holds true to its name as a crossroads of people . It keeps with the tradition of Ise pilgrimages. I certainly hope you will find the time after the workshop to see for yourself the flow of people through Ise.
The tourist industry is very important to Mie; it accounts for more than 10% of the jobs and income - as an industry - in our prefecture. But, Mie is still not ready to welcome in travelers from overseas.
Last year's slump in tourism was a signal that we had to start thinking seriously about the tourist industry. Today, a lot of arguments are being raised amongst people involved with tourism in Mie as to whether the prefecture really has tourism assets or not. If you ask me, Mie has a lot. There is plenty here to satisfy any foreigner's thirst for tourism. But, why do they not come?
Fortunately, we have this workshop and I'm greatly looking forward to results at the end of the day.
As was announced slightly earlier, talks have not be planned as presentations but with a format that allows everyone to participate. I myself have never done anything like this before, so I really want to join in myself and see what happens.
Now, if I may, I'd like to do a little PR for Mie Prefecture. The Reikishi Kaido Festival will be on for one month starting October 10, 1998. Mie Prefecture has a long history and there is something known as the Saio no michi-byway. We are doing something which has never been done before in using this ancient byway for a procession to depart from Arashiyama in Kyoto. It is an invitation to experience history yourself and see the prefecture for what it is historically. Though it has become something of a buzzword in the prefectural offices, we want to emphasize this "straight forward look" and feeling things for yourself in the events we want to hold.
Another event we have planned will be just into the new year. For three days from February 26th, the Japan Flower Festival will be on across all of Japan. We are very fortunate to have Spain participating in the event and, naturally, I want to get the cooperation of Alvaro Renedo, Tourism Counselor for the Spanish Embassy, who will be delivering today's keynote address.
These are just two examples of how we are trying to unleash the potential of Mie Prefecture, whether it be old or new. We want people to know about Mie.
Today's workshop should take us in that direction. Several people from the prefecture will be participating today. I hope they can bring home new ideas on regional promotion.
