|
TheBuzz
Erika Engle
|
Aloha Street launches Big Island edition for Japanese visitors
THE NUMBER of Big Island visitor guides for Japanese visitors is up to three with the launch of Aloha Street's Big Island edition.
The new magazine is a sister-publication to "Aloha Street," first published by Wincubic.com Inc. in 2000 and, like its big sister, is aimed at visitors from Japan.
The magazine's launch comes amid a months-long downturn Japanese visitor arrivals. However, Aloha Street President Hajime "Jim" Ueno notes, the Big Island is the only island that has maintained arrival growth among Japanese visitors.
COURTESY ALOHA STREET
The recently launched Big Island edition of Aloha Street is handed out to arriving air travelers from Japan as well as being distributed on free racks and at car rental agencies. CLICK FOR LARGE
|
|
The magazine will primarily be distributed on the Kona side because of a daily direct flight to Kona by
Japan Air Lines, bringing 150 or so passengers.
The new edition is handed to arriving passengers, Ueno said, rather than leave distribution to chance via placement of free distribution racks, but those are used in some locations. They are also distributed at car-rental companies.
"Now, half of the tour packages include rental car options, that's how many Japanese tourists started driving over there," Ueno said.
Ueno said he believes the new magazine's bilingual maps are better and more numerous than those of its competitors. The magazine also explains the steps involved in returning a rental car, which seems to be appreciated by companies who don't have bilingual rental agents. "They can just show them," Ueno said.
Wincubic publishes Aloha Street quarterly. It is sent to 3,000 subscribers but its distribution is 500,000 copies a year.
The Big Island edition, which will also go to Aloha Street subscribers, will be published three times a year; Wincubic plans distribution of 150,000.
However, one of the car-rental companies has already asked for more copies.
"It's been only a week, kind of faster than we thought, so we might need more," Ueno said.
Marketing finalists named
The Hawaii Chapter of the American Marketing Association is preparing to name its 30th Marketer of the Year from among several finalists.
Aloha Medical Mission, Diamond Head Theatre, Hawai'i Pacific University, Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, Pacific Aviation Museum -- Pearl Harbor, Wahoo's Fish Taco and WCIT Architecture are in the running.
Winners of awards for outstanding nonprofit marketing, e-marketing and marketing of a new product or service, in addition to the Marketer of the Year Award will be announced May 8.
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin. Call 529-4747, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210, Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached at:
eengle@starbulletin.com