Australia and Japan’s national tourism marketing organisations are partnering to encourage two-way tourism between the two nations as part of a new initiative – the Australia-Japan Tourism Exchange Year 2013.
Starting from 1 January 2013, the Australia-Japan Tourism Exchange Year aims to promote bilateral exchange between the tourism industries of both countries to ensure longer term sustainable growth in their visitor economies. The Australia-Japan Tourism Exchange Year 2013 also marks the 50th anniversary of the first sister-city relationship for Japan and Australia, established between Yamatotakada City in Nara Prefecture and Lismore City in New South Wales in 1963.
There are currently more than 100 sister-city relationships between Japan and Australia, which are a platform for active international cultural exchange, and these are seen as a further opportunity for encouraging travel in the coming year.