The Tokyo-based Pacific Islands Centre (PIC), which is part of the Pacific Trade Invest Network, participated with an exhibition at the Marine Diving Fair 2017 from April 7 to 9, held at the Ikebukuro Sunshine City Cultural Centre.
While cherry blossoms were in full bloom, despite bad weather, more than 50,000 visitors attended the fair with more anticipation than last year. Among them were many enthusiastic divers and travel lovers who were looking for new ocean resorts.
A corner of the main aisle at the fair was almost completely occupied by Pacific islands booths from Palau, Papua New Guinea, Kosrae of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Cook Islands and Marshall Islands, which was a first-time participant on the initiative of tourism authorities and diver groups.
Many visitors, who showed interest in Pacific Island Countries as new diving spots also came to the PIC booth. It included supporters in the field of tourism in Pacific Island Countries such as travel agents, who actively promoted those countries’ attractive points as well. Also, for the first time, PIC held a quiz and lottery about the Pacific Ocean that attracted many visitors with a long queue and much enthusiasm.
On April 7, PIC Director Roy Saito and two other presenters gave informative talks about the sightseeing charms of Samoa, Vanuatu and Fiji at the JATA (Japan Association of Travel Agents) Destination Seminar.
The audiences, who listened to the talks with great interest, visited the PIC booth to discuss the details of each country.
For more information, please email PIC Director Roy Saito at rsaito@pic.or.jp
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Kiribati envoy visits PIC
Teekoa Iuta, Ambassador of the Republic of Kiribati to Taiwan (concurrently, Ambassador of the Republic of Kiribati to Japan), visited PIC on March 13, on the occasion of her attending the sixth anniversary of the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake. Kentaro Ono, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Kiribati to Japan in Sendai, also joined her to discuss business relationships between Japan and Kiribati.
Ambassador Iuta had previously come to Japan to attend the Ministerial Interim Meeting of Pacific Island Countries and Japan in January this year, so this was her second visit. She talked about various promotional ideas including tourism centered on Christmas Island. Finally, it was agreed that she would cooperate with PIC on the eighth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting next year.
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APIC’s Young Leaders Group Visits PIC
A young leaders group from the Micronesia region who were hosted by the Association for Promotion of International Cooperation (APIC) to visit Japan, called on PIC to discuss business exchange between Japan and Micronesian countries on March 27.
The members were Orcilil Kazuo, Spokesperson of Palau Republic; James Miyazoe, Deputy Commissioner of Maritime Administration Bureau of Republic of the Marshall Islands and Jack Chonggam, CEO of Marshall Energy Corporation.
PIC Director Saito spoke with them about the development of relationships in business between Japan and the Micronesia region following the trend of the increased tourism from Japan to Palau and the fact that the “Rearcar” factory was established in Marshall Islands last March, taking note of the historical background.
Takehiro Kurosaki, PIC Deputy Director, explained the characteristics and issues around doing business in the Pacific islands. The leaders appreciated PIC’s efforts and promised to encourage related departments to cooperate with PIC actively upon returning home.
Pacific Periscope 