The implementation of national travel assistance has brought renewed attention to domestic travel.
JAL, which has bases throughout Japan, has been continuously implementing regional revitalization initiatives (currently the “JAL Furusato Project”). In August 2020, flight attendants selected through an internal application process moved to the area and launched the “JAL Furusato Ambassadors” to promote regional initiatives, and in In December of the same year, JAL appointed “JAL hometown supporters,” who are involved in regional revitalization while serving on board. The aim is to develop products and solve regional issues for hometowns and other regions with which they have connections, utilizing the knowledge they have accumulated as flight attendants.
We spoke with Chiaki Kobayashi, a JAL Furusato Ambassador who is involved in regional revitalization in Obihiro, Hokkaido.
–What can you tell us about your initiatives?
JAL flight attendants (Furusato Ouen-tai and Furusato Ambassadors in charge of Hokkaido) have been working with restaurants in Nakasatsunai Village, near Tokachi Obihiro Airport, to create new menus for them.
The menu we devised is being served at five restaurants in the village for a limited time from December 10, 2022 to the end of March of this year. This is a collaborative project with the Nakasatsunai Village Chamber of Commerce and Industry to revitalize the restaurants in the village that were affected by the Corona disaster and to attract as many people as possible to visit the village since the number of tourists declines during the winter season.
–How are you involved in this effort?
As project leader, I exchanged opinions with the Nakasatsunai-mura Chamber of Commerce and Industry and coordinated various internal and external aspects of the project, including its launch and implementation.
Once the activity started, we all shared and refined our ideas for store menus other than those of the restaurants we were in charge of, along with the four supporting members. We also communicated with the restaurants and strived to propose more attractive and delicious menus.
–What are your future plans and prospects?
We are promoting the fact that it will be offered until the end of March, but if it is well received, it may become a regular menu item at each restaurant. We hope many of you will try it! We are also planning a new project for the next year that will expand the scope of this project.
–What is your message to travelers?
Based on the delicious memories of our flight attendants from the many places they have tasted, the chefs at each restaurant have created unique and deliciously arranged menus that are filled with their passion for the region. As the weather gets colder and colder, an event called “Snow Art Village Nakasatsunai” will be held on the second Sunday of February (February 12).
Please come to Nakasatsunai Village and try our menu! (Events are subject to cancellation due to weather and other reasons. Please check the Nakasatsunai Village Tourism Association website for details.)
© Source travel watch