Hakodate Mission visits Singapore

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.