Destination DC (Washington D.C. Convention and Visitors Bureau) held a press conference in Tokyo on October 17 to explain the current state of the Japanese market and upcoming events.
According to Elliot L. Ferguson II, the representative who spoke, 25.95 million visitors (equivalent to 85% of the pre-Corona number) will visit Washington, D.C. in 2023. Of these, 24 million were domestic and 1.95 million were from abroad, with 34,300 visitors from Japan. This ranks Washington, D.C. 14th in the international market.
The number of Japanese travelers is recovering rapidly, up 315% from 2022 at the dawn of Corona, and the number of visitors in 2024 is expected to increase by 16% from 2023. There are three airports in the state, and ANA and United Airlines fly daily nonstop from Japan to Washington Dulles International Airport (two round-trip flights in total).
The Tourism Bureau has established a new tagline, “The One and Only Washington, D.C.,” and will promote the city’s more than 100 monuments, historic buildings, museums, and other free places to visit, as well as its 25 Michelin-starred restaurants, professional sports such as MLB/NBA/NFL, and the 2025 The city also has 25 Michelin-starred restaurants, professional sports such as MLB, NBA, and NFL, and will host the World Cup soccer tournament at Audi Field in 2025. I want visitors to not only experience the history of the city, but also to have a unique American experience,” he explained.
One of the events in Washington D.C. that is also well known in Japan is the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which originated in 1912 when the then mayor of Tokyo presented more than 3,000 cherry trees to the city. Today, it has become a major event that attracts more than 1.6 million visitors every year, and during the festival, programs are held on the themes of food, music, art, and culture. The next festival is scheduled to be held from March 20 to April 13, 2025.
Another event that the Tourism Bureau is focusing on is the DC Jazz Fest. It is held over five days from Wednesday through Sunday of Labor Day (the first Monday in September) and usually attracts 100,000 people at multiple venues, including The Wharf, Hamilton Live, Anthem, Westminster, Arena Stage, Union Stage, and the Embassy, and is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2024.
In addition to ticketed performances, there will also be free performances open to the public, providing an opportunity for anyone to experience jazz. Sunny Sumter and Chris Grasso, both based in Washington, D.C., are scheduled to perform at the “Sumida Street Jazz Festival” in Sumida-ku, Tokyo, on October 19-20.
© Source travel watch
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