Patterns and organization of Japanese tourism in Canada: 1960–2010

Abstract

AbstractThe tourism production chain is utilized to understand the major periods of emergence, growth, and decline of Japanese tourism in Canada. Interviews with personnel at airline companies, tour operators, and hotels indicate the salient features of the Japan‐Canada tourist production chain, as well as the spatial patterns of tourism circuits over the 1960–2010 period. The article argues that by the end of the study period the tourism production chain had split into two markets, comprising group tours and free independent travellers. The spatial pattern of Japanese tourists had broadened somewhat but continued to focus on the “8‐day dash,” a tour circuit involving travel across Canada to visit Niagara Falls, Banff in the Rockies, and Vancouver. To promote Canada to Japanese tourists, this analysis underscores the need to involve the Canadian Tourism Commission, provincial agencies, Air Canada, and local governments together in a “team Canada” approach, as well as including Japanese tour operators.