In the recently released 2012 statistics and rankings by the Japan National Tourist Organization (JNTO), a governmental body under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Fukuoka City was, once again, ranked second in Japan with a total of 252 meetings. This means the city has captured this position for the last 4 consecutive years.
In addition, the number of participants from international conventions held in the city increased by 80,000 from the previous year, amounting to the largest number of 171,049 in total.
Among other things, Fukuoka’s success can be partly attributed to its “all-city” approach to conventions through the establishment of the Fukuoka Directive Council comprising public, private, academic and civic sectors. Armed with a strategic road map and clear goals, the city, through the Fukuoka Convention & Visitors Bureau, has made significant inroads on the global platform.
Earlier this year, the city participated in its first MICE international trade show, IMEX in Frankfurt, and later dispatched a strong team of delegates to the ICCA Congress in Shanghai.