SPECIAL PROJECTS & EVENTS

INDIGO Special Projects & Events

Holistic views, strategic thinking from holistic views, innovative synergy and productive outcome.

INDIGO excels at understanding destination needs, sorting fundamental desires, and suggesting necessary action and services.

An experiential approach is effective in planning events, implementing tourism development research, partnership opportunity search, and practical preparation of strategic destination development.

INDIGO can support and work with destinations in person at and above the international standard of destination marketing.

UN-Tourism-Global-Tourism-Investment-Forum

Read full article here: Global Tourism Investment Forum

Case study:

UN Tourism

Global Tourism Investment Forum: Co-creating Cultures for the Future: High-Level Dialogue: Investing for Impact: Driving Sustainable and Inclusive Growth in the Tourism Sector

Moderator (as Senior Media Strategist, Travel Voice Japan, 2025)

Role:

Plan and coordinate discussion topics with UN Tourism, communicate with the panelists for pre-event briefing and discussion guidance, and facilitate productive and meaningful dialogue as the moderator.

Panelists:

Eijiro Yamakita, President & CEO, JTB Corp.
James Kaplan, CEO, Destination Capital
Hayato Shingu, Deputy Chief Commercial Officer Aeronautical, Kansai Airports
Sam Sakamura, Vice President at Hyatt, Japan and Micronesia
Phillip Vincent, Managing Partner, Plug and Play APAC and CEO of Plug and Play Japan

Key takeaways:

Investment in tourism not only creates jobs, but also leads to investment in other industries, supporting economic growth of the region.
Japan must tackle labor shortages, language barriers, and resistant attitudes towards growing international inbound travel in regional destinations.
Investment costs are lower in Japan than on other global markets, while the last few years has seen a rapid rise in accommodation prices in Japan.
Japan is attractive to many entrepreneurs due to its reputation in manufacturing, robots, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and deep technologies. Business development is becoming easier for start-ups.
Tourism may be bolstered by promoting culture and regional areas.
Technological advancement and multi-sector partnerships may lead to innovative initiatives in the future.

Case study:

Japan Travel and Tourism Association

D Study, destination organization human resource training program (2025)

Training course outline:

As Japan approaches an era of 60 million international inbound tourists per year, tourism’s role in sustaining regional communities grows increasingly complex. Consequently, significant expectations are set for the Japanese destination organizations that steer destination management and marketing.
Japan Travel and Tourism Association has developed a training and certification system (Destination Management Personnel Certification ‘D Study’) to ensure a certain level of knowledge and skills among regional tourism organization personnel.

Tourism destination marketing expert lecture:

Utilizing INDIGO’s expertise, the following two destination marketing strategy lectures were prepared as a mandatory portion of the course: “Marketing strategy building” and “Tourism product development and distribution”
The lectures included case studies of successful projects led by INDIGO with regional destination partners as role models based on STP (Segmentation, targeting and positioning) and other practical marketing knowledge.

Visit: nihon-kankou.or.jp

Case study:

ASEAN-Japan Centre

Japan’s overseas travel trend and how Japanese youth view sustainable/ASEAN tourism (2022 – 2023)

Research consulting:

Consulted on research design and data analysis, incorporating knowledge of international tourism trends and market sentiment
Assisted in organization of interviews and introduced Tokyo-based university students for interview sessions
Identified areas for positive impact as well as challenges
Hosted and consulted on online seminars for Japanese travel and tourism professionals and for ASEAN government and association partners

Marketing suggestions:

Strategic marketing for Japan as a leading destination in the global market
Understand changing consumer sentiments, market trends, and customer desires and needs
Craft valuable, unique experiences and/or travel programs tailored to customer expectations
Promote destination strengths to entice Japanese overseas travel market
Take advantage of JATA and industry partnerships, including AJC’s support
Focus on quality tourism and responsible travel in order to support local livelihood by cultivating tourism sustainability

Case study:

Fuji Hakone Guest House

Trail running and stay – test marketing and strategy report (2022)

Goal:

Given the recent rise in popularity of trail running, test a new business model and ability of Fuji Hakone Guest House to cater to growing market demand.

Product assessment:

Expert inspection of Hakone trails and guest house by four experienced female trail runners from Tokyo
Evaluation based on desires of trail runners and demands for accommodation
Service/market needs matched suggestions

Marketing strategy:

Quickly build new business model by utilizing existing facilities and services
Strategic key elements and methods to cater to trail runner needs
Realistic promotion suggestions gathered from test inspection results and comments
Strengthening seasonal feasibility by mixing different customer segments

Next step:

Fuji Hakone Guest House to plan marketing for trail runner stay promotion based on recommendations in the INDIGO strategy report

Case study:

Academic course lecturer:

Aoyama Gakuin University

School of Global Studies and Collaboration: Tourism in Asia (2021 – present)

Course outline:

Since 2020, historic changes in international travel and tourism have presented new challenges for destinations, industries, and travelers. Within our changing social values, communities have reclaimed a central role. Human relations take the forefront, creating novel and successful ways to sustain livelihoods. Responsible travel and sustainable tourism are considered essential to nurturing constructive relationships between travelers and local residents.
This course shares current tourism trends and insightful case studies of Asian destinations, including how Japan can build better tourism experiences.
In each session, students will acquire basic marketing knowledge and demonstrate an understanding in tourism destination marketing.

Goal and objectives :

Students acquire strategic thinking for travel, tourism, and destinations/communities, developing personal visions based on global perspectives.
Gain awareness of market sentiment and destination trends under rapidly changing social situations
Learn about successful travel and tourism case studies in Asian destinations to understand the benefits of tourism destination marketing and how to optimize it for communities

Case study:

UNWTO Pacific Islands – Synergies between Tourism Growth and Product Development (Tony Everitt and Naohiro Fukawa Tourism Consulting Partners, 2019-2020)

Assignment:

Develop and implement a study that aims to provide knowledge, recommendations and case studies on synergies between tourism growth and tourism product development in Pacific Islands Countries.

Study and report:

Analysis of current efforts of tourism product development in Pacific Island states
Opportunity search for product development that promotes local entrepreneurship initiatives and community engagement in Pacific Island States
Provision of good practice scenarios from across the region and other states
Encouraging intraregional collaboration and benchmarking among Pacific Island destinations
Presentations and reporting of study results and recommendations

Outcomes:

Desk research, key stake holder interviews through site visits and teleconferences with the selected ten islands and collaboration with SPTO South Pacific Islands Tourism Organization encouraged the governments and industry partners for future stronger partnerships through the study
Comprehensive study report includes case studies, good practice analysis, and tourism product development checklist with the most relevant recommendations for Pacific Islands to be published in June 2020

Photo courtesy of Okinawa Kaiho Bank

Case study:

Okinawa Kaiho Bank Training trainers human resource development (2019-2020)

Assignment:

Okinawa Kaiho Bank human resource development for tourism as regional business (Joint project wth Cultivate, Inc. 2019-2020)

Goal:

Training program and human resource development, consulting in regional tourism and destination management for bank’s next decade of business

Training and consulting:

Tourism destination marketing courses
Regional travel product development and management skill training through onsite green-tourism project in cooperation with Cultivate, Inc
Public relations training
Presentation skills refinement
Mentoring and coaching for constructive-thinking jointly conducted with Cultivate, Inc

Outcome:

A new division for regional support experts was established in the bank for their new client and business approach
Division members present a thorough understanding of tourism relationship with local business as a regional industry for better client support
The bank engages in more communications throughout internal departments leading with a better synergy for regional business support
Through local onsite projects organized and operated by Cultivate, Inc., the bank revitalized its client relationship and is building new business partnerships

Case study:

Life Tourism Forum (TSJ Director, 2018 and 2019)

Goal:

Destination education to increase tourism understanding in regional communities and contribute to appreciate benefits of local abundance in life for traveler/community mutual satisfaction.

Event project:

Overall planning of effective project and designing of forum programs
Preparation for forum vision and key messages, and selection of speakers
Logistic planning and coordination with local governments and other partners
Directing event and facilitating discussions during the forum
Interpretation (English/Japanese, Japanese/English)
Forum report booklet as additional education tool distribution
Project review, effect evaluation and report

Outcome:

State-wide participants realized the importance of local life and ways to share its abundance with travelers for mutual fulfillment

Participants: 200pax (2018), 500pax (2019)
Governor/mayor greetings as a municipality official event
Keynote speeches by leading professionals
Discussion with international, national, and regional level representative panels
Local school students included in their tourism work presentation for youth education
Survey among participants for program review as well as topic interest and expectations for future projects

Video courtesy of RideJapan & Dreaming Big Media

Case study:

RideJapan Mount Fuji Three Peaks Tour (TSJ Director, 2018)

Goal:

Creating international media engagement for thematic travel experience promotion, and branding the destination as one of the global cycling tourism icons.

Tour event project:

Facilitating project arrangement, logistic planning and coordination between Japanese municipalities/organizations and international tour operator
Necessary document preparation and application for approval of public road use
Onsite event management for increased regional engagement and creating local motivation as well as better experiences for journalists

Outcome:

Through international travel event management, regional government learned to optimize their efforts with better customer engagement and contribute to more effective media coverage
Regional tourism office involved local cyclists and a traditional music performance team in the event, creating a positive impact for better community partnerships as well as with International journalists
High quality promotion video and visual assets were produced and created by Dreaming Big Media. These visual promotion tools were shared with regional tourism organizations for their thematic destination promotion purposes.
The success of the event has served as sales promotions for RideJapan. A wider variety of cycling tour products are prepared in store, leading to mutual gain for both the tour operator and the destination

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TOURISM DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES

Responsible planning for sustainable development of communities through travel and tourism.

TOURISM DESTINATION MARKETING

Customising strategic approaches to maximise positive impacts of destination resources and global trends.

TRADE & GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

Managing B2B strategies that adheres to regional regulations and cultural guidelines.

PR & MEDIA PARTNERSHIPS

Interpreting partner needs with international insights and best matching with unique stories.

CREATIVE PRODUCTION

Engaging core markets with most effective ways for successful B2C communication.

SPECIAL PROJECTS & EVENTS

Strategic thinking from holistic views to achieve innovative synergy and productive outcome.

SPECIAL PROJECTS & EVENTS

INDIGO Special Projects & Events

Case study:

Role:

Panelists:

Key takeaways:

Case study:

Training course outline:

Tourism destination marketing expert lecture:

Case study:

Research consulting:

Marketing suggestions:

Case study:

Goal:

Product assessment:

Marketing strategy:

Next step:

Case study:

Course outline:

Goal and objectives :

Case study:

Assignment:

Study and report:

Outcomes:

Case study:

Assignment:

Goal:

Training and consulting:

Outcome:

Case study:

Goal:

Event project:

Outcome:

Case study:

Goal:

Tour event project:

Outcome:

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