In order to attract Japanese tourists to Taiwan during the Chinese New Year holiday, Taiwan’s Tourism Administration has appointed beloved Japanese actor Satoshi Tsumabuki as an ambassador for Taiwan’s tourism in the Japanese market.
The appointment ceremony was held in Tokyo on Wednesday. It was attended by high-ranking officials from Taiwan's tourism sector, including the Director-General of the Tourism Administration Chou Yung-hui (周永暉), as well as representatives from various travel and hospitality industries. This event preceded Taiwan's participation in this upcoming weekend’s Tourism EXPO Japan 2024, where the country will showcase its attractions at a dedicated Taiwan pavilion.
During the ceremony, Tsumabuki received his appointment letter and an official "business card" as Taiwan's tourism ambassador. He expressed his honor at the appointment, describing Taiwan as his "second home,” and shared insights from his recent visit to Taiwan in early September, where he filmed promotional videos showcasing diverse experiences across the country. These include traditional breakfast in Taipei, boat cruising on Sun Moon Lake, tea-picking in Alishan, and shrimp fishing in Yilan, aligning with the campaign theme "Everything you want to experience is here."
Tsumabuki’s appointment is expected to significantly boost Taiwanese tourism in the Japanese travel market. Taiwanese Representative to Japan Lee I-yang (李逸洋) says that Taiwan-Japan relations are at their best. According to Lee, more than 3.55 million Taiwanese tourists have visited Japan and more than 683,000 Japanese tourists have visited Taiwan as of July this year.