Memorandum of Understanding set to expand aviation network between Singapore and Okinawa
NAHA, Japan - Wednesday, March 26th 2014 [ME NewsWire]
(BUSINESS
WIRE)-- The Governor of Okinawa Prefectural Government, Mr. Hirokazu
Nakaima and Changi Airport Senior Advisor, Mr. Wong Woon Liong, today
signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to strengthen the aviation
network between Okinawa and Singapore. Under the MOU, Okinawa and the
Changi Airport have agreed to work closely to promote tourism and trade
exchange between Okinawa, Singapore, South East Asia and beyond markets
including India and Australia.
Some initiatives in the pipeline
will include working with airlines to create new routes from the two
cities and promoting direct flights to increase the numbers of visitors
from Singapore and other regions.
Regional promotion to 1.2
billion residents of South East and South Asian countries including
Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, India and other regions will aim to
promote Singapore as a travel hub to Okinawa.
Trade will also
receive a boost with Okinawa aiming to work with enterprises with access
to international air cargo logistics, to grow distribution channels for
Okinawan products to Singapore and neighboring markets. Okinawa is a
robust exporter of healthy and high quality food including fresh
produce, brown sugar lump, salt and sweet goods. These are well reputed
among overseas countries.
“It is a great honor for me to be here
for the signing of the MOU between Singapore Changi Airport and Okinawa
Prefecture. This MOU is aimed at enhancing direct air connectivity
between the two cities. Changi Airport is keen to establish a direct
link to Okinawa. The prefecture shares the common interest to promote
tourism, trade and transport people from one destination to another,”
said Mr. Wong Woon Liong.
“With this non-stop flight
inauguration, it will decrease flight time to Okinawa, and provide
greater comfort and convenience to business and leisure travelers. To
start with, we will work together with key travel agencies to launch
charter flights between Singapore and Okinawa. This will create and
further develop the Singapore-Okinawa market for the first scheduled
direct flights. We are also planning to conduct marketing promotion
activities together,” he added.
“It is a great honor for us to
have a signing ceremony with the presence of Mr. Wong Woon Liong, as a
representative from Changi Airport, and many other respectful guests
around the world. As everybody knows, Changi Airport is one of the
world’s leading airports and a hub for 1.2 billion residents in the
South East and South Asian region. Through this relationship, we expect
our prefecture’s aviation network to be further strengthened to increase
tourism and air cargo,” said Governor Hirokazu Nakaima.
“We also
expect that Okinawa will be widely known as a new, attractive
destination in Japan through our ongoing and future promotions in
Singapore and many other regions,” he added.
The signing ceremony was held today at the international terminal of Naha Airport.
About Changi Airport
Changi
Airport (www.changiairport.com) is the world’s most awarded airport
with more than 450 accolades received since it opened in 1981. To serve
passengers and visitors from the world over, there are over 350 retail
stores and 120 F&B outlets across the airport's three terminals.
Changi handled more than 53 million passenger movements in 2013, an
annual record. Today, it serves more than 100 airlines flying to 280
cities in about 60 countries and territories worldwide. A flight takes
off or lands at Changi roughly once every 90 seconds.
About Okinawa Prefecture
Okinawa
Prefecture, located in the southernmost part of Japan, consists of more
than 160 large or small beautiful islands, scattered in the vast ocean.
Okinawa, with its warm climate in the subtropical-oceanic zone, has a
diversity of ecosystems and is a habitat for a variety of animals and
plants including beautiful corals. Since Okinawa has a long history with
the Asian continent for overseas commerce, a unique history and culture
has developed. Such uniqueness is seen in the archaeological digs,
architecture, arts and crafts, entertainment, cuisine and customs.
Okinawa recently conducted tourism and trade promotion in 15 global markets based on detailed survey results.
Okinawa’s
tourism website is available in 10 languages including Japanese,
English, Chinese, Korean, Russian, German, Spanish and Portuguese.
Okinawa accommodates overseas travelers with its hospitality and
tradition. For more information, please visit
http://www.okinawastory.jp/en/
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50830163&lang=en
Contacts
Okinawa Prefectural Government
Ken Yamashiro, +81 98 866 2764
Tourism Promotion Division
yamashkn@pref.okinawa.lg.jp
Permalink: http://me-newswire.net/news/10447/en
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