We are quite optimistic about the Indian market: Director General of Tourism, Sapporo City

Global Destinations has partnered with Sapporo City and All Nippon Airways (ANA) to promote Sapporo, Hokkaido, as a top choice for Indian tourists. This comes amid rising interest in Japan among Indian travellers.

Renowned for its natural beauty, culture, and snow, Sapporo offers attractions like snow festivals, gourmet cuisine, and scenic landscapes. The collaboration aims to showcase the city’s unique experiences to Indian visitors.

In this direction, Global Destinations recently hosted an event in Mumbai, attended by prominent travel agents, to promote Sapporo City.
Speaking to TravelBiz Monitor on the sidelines of the event, Aoyama Tomonori, Director General for Tourism & MICE Promotion at Sapporo City, highlighted the Indian market’s potential, expressing optimism about its growth. He emphasised that Sapporo offers a unique experience where travellers can enjoy cherry blossoms and snow simultaneously, a feature not widely known among Indian tourists.

When asked about the right time to visit Sapporo, he said that it’s a year-round destination. As of now their target segments are MICE and Family. He also mentioned that a flight departs from Tokyo to Sapporo City every 30 minutes, with a flying time of just 90 minutes.
Last year, Sapporo welcomed 6,400 Indian tourists, a number expected to rise significantly. Tomonori credited the partnership with Global Destinations for strengthening connections with the Indian travel trade, and promoting Sapporo in key cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.

Pranav Kapadia, Founder and Director of Global Destinations, described Sapporo as a “hidden gem” that they are excited to showcase to Indian travellers. “Our focus is on engaging travel agents already selling Japan who are seeking new options within the country, as well as those specializing in long-haul destinations who may not have explored Japan as a market yet,” he explained.

Additionally, an upcoming big-budget Bollywood movie by Aamir Khan Productions is expected to boost Sapporo’s appeal among Indian tourists.