OITA, Japan, Sept. 10, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ctrip.com International, Ltd., Asia’s largest online travel agency, today signed an agreement with Oita tourism bureau to cooperate in the promotion of inbound tourism to the region.
Oita Tourism Bureau is the first municipality in the Kyushu region to sign an agreement with Ctrip. In 2017, 4.9 million foreign tourists visited Kyushu, an increase of 32.8% from the previous year, and the highest number in six consecutive years. Home to famous hot spring resorts such as Yufuin and Beppu, Oita prefecture hosted 1.38 million foreign guests in 2017, an increase by 67.7% compared to the previous year, denoting the highest growth rate among all prefectures nationally for that year. Ctrip will work together with Oita Tourism Bureau to promote Oita prefecture to Chinese and other inbound tourists, and guarantee a stress-free and comfortable experience by offering tickets for various attractions, sightseeing spots, and day tours available via the Ctrip platform.
Oita Tourism Bureau Director Mr. Masuo Abe, Ctrip’s Group Strategic Partnerships and Overseas Market General Manager, Ms. Pei, and GM of Ctrip Group Japan Mr. Junda Su attended the signing ceremony, which was held on September 10th in Oita city.
“I hope that with this comprehensive cooperation agreement, we will also be able to collaborate in terms of sustainable tourism,” said Mr. Abe. “Making use of Ctrip's ability to effectively disseminate information and influence, we would also like to help tourists and residents achieve greater mutual understanding by sharing guides for etiquette and behaviour.” Ctrip’s Ms. Pei said that she was looking forward to the cooperation and elaborated, “We’ve noticed an increase in Chinese tourists visiting Oita in 2019. I believe this is closely related to the increase of strategic content to do with Oita’s rich tourism resources on the Ctrip platform, and the active development of marketing activities.”
<For your reference>
This is a list of all agreements Ctrip has signed so far in Japan.
| Municipality/Organization | Date |
| Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau | July 2017 |
| Hokkaido Tourism Organization | September 2018 |
| Yokohama city | November 2018 |
| Kochi prefecture | June 2019 |
| Aichi prefecture | August 2019 |
| Oita prefecture | September 2019 |
About Ctrip.com International, Ltd.
Ctrip.com International, Ltd. is a leading travel service provider of accommodation reservation, transportation ticketing, packaged tours and corporate travel management in China. It is the largest online consolidator of accommodations and transportation tickets in China in terms of transaction volume. Ctrip enables business and leisure travelers to make informed and cost-effective bookings by aggregating comprehensive travel related information and offering its services through an advanced transaction and service platform consisting of its mobile apps, Internet websites and centralized, toll-free, 24-hour customer service center. Ctrip also helps customers book vacation packages and guided tours. In addition, through its corporate travel management services, Ctrip helps corporate clients effectively manage their travel requirements. Since its inception in 1999, Ctrip has experienced substantial growth and become one of the best-known travel brands in China.
For further information, please contact:
Ctrip.com International, Ltd.
Tel: (+86) 21 3406 4880 ext 196455
Email: pr@ctrip.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1176443c-3df4-42b5-bb7c-7bb4d058af3d