Critical Analysis Of Media Representation Of Tokyo As A Tourist Destination.

The Impact of Media Representation on Tourism in Tokyo

Discuss about the Critical Analysis of Media Representation of Tourist Destination for Tokyo.

Over the years the perceptions of people in different ways have changed towards certain subjects. Tourism is one such subject that has undergone significant change with the taste and preference of the consumers changing rapidly. Tourism is a tertiary industry with a strong prospect for growth. It is extremely important to mention that over the years people’s perception about tourism has changed drastically. Nowadays people do not only go places for fun but there are several other reasons that attract them to visit a certain place. People have become considerate about choosing their tourism destination and their decisions are based on several key aspects (Xiang & Gretzel, 2010). In the world of advertisement where everything is sold on the face value, tourism has somehow got the much needed hype thanks to different kinds of media representation that has been able to display tourism not only as a source of enjoyment but also a very effectual source of bliss and respite.  Tourism is a multi disciplinary area nowadays and hence it relates to the subject of sociology, leisure, sports, medical et cetera. With the different facets of tourism coming out in the open media has become one of the key tools that have been able to highlight these facets of tourism in the right way.  It has been found that over the years the relationship between media and tourism has strengthened visibly making them complementary to each other (Burton, 2010).

Media includes films, advertisements, ad prints, social media advertisements, clips that helps to exhibit the right kind of image of a particular place. Today media is widespread and easily accessible and hence is the best way to exhibit tourism in the best possible manner. In the recent past there are number of tourism destinations which have emerged as leading tourism destination and one such place is Tokyo. Tokyo is Japan’s Capital city and is also one of the finest cities in terms of aesthetic beauty. Tokyo has emerged as one of the beautiful cities that remained inaccessible to many people over the years only because of ignorance. Tokyo remained curtained to tourists for a long period of time and received moderate footfall. But with effective media representation Tokyo became accessible to more people (Macionis & Sparks, 2009). It clearly showed that media has a big role to play in the emergence of Tokyo as a cream tourism destination. Speaking from a broader point of view it could be said that media representation important is extremely important in this highly competitive market environment. Since the tourists have become highly experienced and well informed the trend in tourism has shifted paradigms.  In this scenario media representations have provided competitive advantage in the market to Tokyo. At the present moment Tourism industry has reached its peak and hence it has been supported by media like film and social media advertisements, ad prints et cetera. Film is one of the most easily accessible media that has helped a lot of tourist destinations to rise to the occasion. Destination image is one of the key concepts in the concept of tourism. Destination image could be defined as one of the key aspects successful tourism development. It is an effective way of improving destination marketing with the help of media representation (Hays et al., 2013).

Cinema and its Relevance to Tourism for Tokyo

Films and tourism have gone hand in hand for a long period of time. For a tourism destination like Tokyo media representation is extremely effective. Cinema or Short film is one of the best ways to communicate with people and hence to spread the news of tourism and developing the tourism infrastructure. It has been recognised in the tourism literature that destination image greatly boosts the tourism choice. There’s an aphorism that says “when you see it; you believe it” and this goes perfectly well in this subject (Yoo & Gretzel, 2011). It is extremely important to mention that in the age of visuals people start believing only when they see something and this is where cinema or film induced tourism helps in developing the interest among the consumers. The film representation of Tokyo and its tourist centered edifices like Meiji Shrine, Senso ji, Roppongi, On the other hand the natural and green life of Tokyo like the Yoyogi Park, Tokyo Disney Sea et cetera are some of the key places which would definitely attract people. The proper filming of these places would stir the tourists effectively. Cinema is closest to people’s heart and this is what makes this tool extremely effective for the different tourist organisations to exhibit the place in the best possible way (Croteau & Hoynes, 2013). Many films have been able to get significant interest among the consumers for their scenic views. Top class filmmakers like Woody Allen, Peter Jackson and other award winning directors focus on setting their locations and emphasise on scenic beauty to engage and rivet their viewers. Some of the films like Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, and Chunking Express are some of the movies that have used the locations to good effect. Some of the great films set in Tokyo are Stray Dogs, Tokyo Story, Godzilla (1954) have been a stepping stone in promoting Tokyo as memorable place to visit (Croy, 2010). Akira directed by Katsuhiro Otomo has been a revolution for Tokyo. It has showed the other side of Tokyo which has helped to promote the place effectively. Destination Image is a key aspect for every tourist destination and hence developing a strong platform for the promotion of a place is extremely important. In this scenario it could be stated that cinema or film is the best possible media to influence destination image. Destination image of Tokyo over the years have been influenced by the different kinds of films that have been set over the years in Tokyo.

Japanese Music and its Contribution to Tourism in Tokyo

International tourism enhances mutual understanding among people in different nations of different cultures and culture lies on nation’s value, its people, rituals and its music.  In order for Japan to foster the long-standing friendship and trust among nations, it is highly important to facilitate overseas visitors to Japan and gain true understanding of the Japanese people and the Japanese culture and to enhance the tourism sector, Japan’s cultural music has a great contribution towards it. World’s largest physical music and music video market is Japan. Music lovers all over the world are like to visit Japan to taste the different type of music which includes a wide array of performers in distinct styles both traditional and modern. Since Japanese music is quite different from western music hence peoples from various part of the world are like to visit Japan to feel the differences. Since there are many types of traditional as well as Asiatic music’s are performed hence people around the world likes to travel Japan throughout the year. It has been noticed that inbound visitors are largely from Asiatic countries because Asiatic peoples are very much fond of music. The largest inbound visitors are from Korea followed by Taiwanese. Since US peoples likes Jazz pop kind of music hence they are in the third position. Since there is a liberalized based agreement exists between Japan and China, hence Chinese visitor arrival is higher side nowadays.

The Theory Sustainable Tourism includes the discussion of framing tourism in such a way which would help to develop and constantly nourish tourism properly. Sustainable tourism mainly reflects on practicing tourism effectively and also ethically. The promotion of tourism through media representation helps to develop that concept of sustainable tourism through films (Tasci, 2009).

Apart from films being the major kind of media representation Ad prints and Internet media have also been a significant contribution to the development or influence on Tokyo and its destination Image. With the advent of internet social media clips and advertisements have become extremely effective in popularising certain places and Tokyo is one of that places. It could be stated that since Tokyo has been mentioned number of times in different media like films and clips it will become easier for tourism companies in Tokyo to gain competitive advantage in the tourism market (Sellgren, 2010). Internet as a medium for exhibition of a place has been applauded as well as taken up very seriously which has opened up a newer avenues for tourism companies to promote Tokyo as a place for sustainable tourism. It has been seen that through social media clips places like Tokyo and other places in the world have been pretty effectively marketised and hence many companies have taken up social media for favorable marketing programs and this has also influenced destination image of the company (Croy & Heitmann, 2011).

To conclude it is important to mention that media representation has been extremely effective for different places and for Tokyo media like Films, Social media clip Ad prints have been effective in nature. As stated in the history film induced tourism have been effective in nature where films like Lord of the Rings, Braveheart have done very well in the box office as well as the locations have developed significant business. Overall it could be said that films and other media representations will likely develop footfalls in Tokyo as well as it will develop the destination image of the place which will overall inject substantial cash flow in the economy. Web clips, social media clips and film induced tourism plans will highly influence tourism in Tokyo (Hunter, 2012).

References

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Burton, G. (2010). Media and society: Critical perspectives. McGraw-Hill Education (UK).

Macionis, N., & Sparks, B. (2009). Film-induced tourism: An incidental experience. Tourism Review International, 13(2), 93-101

Hays, S., Page, S. J., & Buhalis, D. (2013). Social media as a destination marketing tool: its use by national tourism organisations. Current issues in Tourism, 16(3), 211-239.

Yoo, K. H., & Gretzel, U. (2011). Influence of personality on travel-related consumer-generated media creation. Computers in Human Behavior, 27(2), 609-621.

Croteau, D., & Hoynes, W. (2013). Media/society: Industries, images, and audiences. Sage Publications.

Stepchenkova, S., & Mills, J. E. (2010). Destination image: A meta-analysis of 2000–2007 research. Journal of Hospitality Marketing & Management,19(6), 575-609.

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Tasci, A. D. (2009). Social Distance The Missing Link in the Loop of Movies, Destination Image, and Tourist Behavior?. Journal of Travel Research, 47(4), 494-507.

Croy, G., & Heitmann, S. (2011). 14 Tourism and Film. Research Themes f or Tourism, 188.

Hunter, W. C. (2012). Projected destination image: A visual analysis of Seoul. Tourism Geographies, 14(3), 419-443.

Sellgren, ?. (2010). Film-induced tourism. The effect films have on destination image formation, motivation and travel behavior. Copenhagen