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The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) will welcome the arrival of the
160-member goodwill mission from Hakodate City, Japan tomorrow. The mission is in Singapore for a four-day leisure and business visit. Led by Mr
Takao Kimura, Deputy Mayor of Hakodate City, the distinguished delegation
comprises top government, tourism and business officials, and members of
the Hakodate-Singapore Society.
At a welcome dinner to be hosted by the Hakodate-Singapore Society at the
Goodwood Park Hotel tomorrow, Mr Masaru Yanagisawa, the founder of the 400-member strong Society, will be re-appointed as STB's Honorary Tourism
Consul. Mr Yanagisawa has been instrumental in enhancing tourism and business exchanges between the city of Hakodate and Singapore. The society
organises annual Singapore Food Festivals in Hakodate and regular visits to Singapore in an effort to educate and generate greater interest of
Singapore as a choice tourism destination.
Mr Yanagisawa is also the driving force behind the signing of the Certificate
of Affiliation between STB and the Hakodate International Tourism and Convention Association (HITCA) in August 1992. With HITCA, he has led many
visits to Singapore to exchange ideas on tourism developments and has helped to foster closer bilateral ties between the two cities. In 1996, he helped
to send a 40-member Ika Odori team to participate in Singapore's Chingay
Parade. In addition, for eight consecutive years since 1994, Mr Yanagisawa has
generously hosted STB's Annual Tourism Awards winners for a week's stay in
Hakodate. Mr Yanagisawa is also very supportive of STB's anchor events like
he Singapore Food Festival. Through his sponsorship, Hakodate has organised a Hakodate Seafood Night in July 1998 at the Keiyaki
Resturant, Pan Pacific as part of STB's Singapore Food Festival in 1999 and
2002. In addition, Mr Yanagisawa has helped to raise Singapore's profile in
Hakodate by facilitating Singapore's participation in Hakodate's biggest
festival - the Hakodate Port Festival in 1999 and 2002. The festival attracts
more than 500,000 visitors annually.
Mr Yanagisawa has recreated elements of Singapore in Hakodate. He has built
a Merlion statue in his spa resort and has a Singapore Trishaw in one of his
hotels' lobby as well as a beer named after the Merlion.
Commenting on his reappointment as STB's Honorary Tourism Consul, Mr
Yanagisawa said:
"Singapore is like my second hometown. I fell in love with Singapore the first
time I visited and have since been captivated by the beauty of
Singapore's lush
landscape and its rich cultural heritage. I am indeed honoured and privileged
to accept the re-appointment as STB's Honorary Tourism Consul and will continue to do my best to enhance tourism exchanges between Singapore
and Hakodate."
Mr Wee Ee-chao, Chairman, STB adds:
"We are pleased and honoured that Mr Yanagisawa has accepted our invitation to continue to help promote tourism
between Hakodate and Singapore. Japan is an important market for Singapore's tourism industry, and in last four years, has been Singapore's
second largest visitor generating market. We will continue to work closely with
Mr. Yanagisawa to facilitate greater cultural exchanges with Japan and to help
drive awareness of Singapore as a choice tourist and business
destination for the Japanese."
Apart from celebrating Mr Yanagisawa's reappointment as STB's Honorary
Tourism Consul and the strong ties between Singapore and Hakodate during
the four-day trip, the delegation will also be taking the opportunity to promote
Hakodate in Singapore, which is known for its hot springs, ski resorts, spectacular nature and scenery, and great seafood. |
