Tourism industry leaders discuss European market challenges and Taiwan expansion

Tom Jenkins, CEO of the European Tourism Association (ETOA), highlighted the long-standing relationship between Europe and Japan during his visit to Tokyo. ETOA, which represents approximately 300 to 400 tour operators and nearly 1,000 total members including hotels and OTAs, focuses on B2B matchmaking and policy advocacy.

Jenkins identified significant operational challenges in Europe, specifically regarding coach access restrictions in city centers and the volatility of local accommodation taxes. He urged governments to provide at least 18 to 20 months of advance notice for tax changes to mitigate risks for travel agencies that often finalize contracts two years in advance.

In a separate development regarding Asian tourism markets, R Planning has been appointed as the Japanese sales partner for the Taipei Tourism Expo (TTE). The company will support Japanese local governments, tourism associations, and businesses in exhibiting at the event to promote regional Japanese products to the Taiwanese market, which remains a vital source of inbound travelers.