NEW YORK – A strong rebound is expected this year in the number of Japanese tourists to post-9/11 New York — and Boston — thanks to three Japanese rookies in U.S. Major League Baseball, a New York official at Japan’s biggest travel agency said.
Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima signed last year to play for the Boston Red Sox. Kei Igawa joined the New York Yankees, while veteran Yankees outfielder Hideki “Godzilla” Matsui has recovered from an injury sustained last year.
These players have now joined spring training.
Combined, “I expect an increase of 15,000 to 20,000 this year in the number of Japanese tourists to the two U.S. cities,” said Seisuke Orikasa, New York office general manager of JTB International Inc.
“Last year, Japanese travel agencies saw a steep year-on-year decline of 25 (percent) to 30 percent, or a total of around 15,000 people,” Orikasa said.
“The expected figure for this year, if achieved, would bring the number of Japanese tourists to New York and Boston back to the 2005 level.”
Japanese travelers to New York City declined from 410,000 in 2000 to 318,000 in 2001, then hovered around 290,000 in 2002 and 2003.
In 2004, the number increased to 322,000 due largely to the city’s tourism promotion campaign. It fell to 299,000 in 2005, however, according to New York City’s official tour marketing organization, NYC & Company.
“We expect many of the Japanese tourists who will visit Boston to stop over in New York as well because the Big Apple is a popular city among Japanese travelers,” said Makiko Healy, senior manager of NYC & Company’s Asia tourism development.
In Boston, travel agencies expect much of the Red Sox’s acquisition of Matsuzaka, who has already been given nicknames in the U.S. media such as Dice-K, DiceK or D-Mat.
William MacDougall, chief executive of Tourism Massachusetts, said last month in an interview with USA Today, “Massachusetts this year will win at least 20,000 extra visitors from Japan, worth an additional $75 million in economic impact.
“This suddenly puts Boston on the map at a different cultural level,” he was quoted as saying. “Developing tour packages will be key because about 42 percent of Japanese travelers to the USA buy packaged tours.”
“In Boston alone, an economic impact worth $30 million is expected if 15,000 Japanese travelers spend $2,000 on hotels, meals and souvenirs per person during their stay,” said JTB’s Orikasa.
“The projected figure does not include revenue from TV broadcasting rights and news coverage expenses by Japanese press corps,” he said.
In 2003, when Matsui joined the Yankees, JTB sold 8,500 tickets for Yankees games mainly to Japanese groups and optional tour travelers. Their visits helped boost the number of Japanese tourists to New York by 8,000 from the previous year, according to Orikasa.
That year, Matsui appeared in all games because he is an outfielder, and performed strongly. The sturdy player’s uninterrupted appearances made it easy for travel agencies to organize and offer package tours aimed at Japanese fans.
Meanwhile, because Matsuzaka, Igawa and Okajima are pitchers, it is uncertain what day of the week they will appear in games.
Orikasa is upbeat.
“With time, our customers will be able to forecast the days Matsuzaka will play by calculating his rotation, and make reservations,” he predicted. “We have prepared optional tours for all Red Sox games.
“We also believe there are a large number of Japanese who find satisfaction merely in visiting Fenway Park in Boston and seeing Red Sox games even if Matsuzaka doesn’t play.
“All the tickets we have secured will be sold out,” Orikasa said.
Matsuzaka, Igawa and Okajima are garnering strong attention from U.S. TV networks and major newspapers, reflecting high expectations among Boston and New York fans.
“These players, I hope, will overcome such pressure, settle into American baseball as soon as possible, and fully pitch their presentation,” Orikasa said.