Orange Ferry” from Ehime Prefecture: An Ideal Means of Access to the Expo? The “Orange Ferry” connecting Toyo Port in Ehime Prefecture and Osaka Nanko has been widely used since the opening of the Expo for the “Expo Access Plan,” a tour that includes bus service to the venue, and as of May 22, it had achieved a “115% increase in foot passengers” (approximately 1,600 more). What happened after that? Finally, during the period from April to October, the company recorded a “135% increase in walk-in passengers, plus 17,000 in terms of headcount,” a significant increase in the number of passengers. In addition, since the Orange Ferry arrives at Osaka Nanko early in the morning at 6:00 a.m. and can stay there until 8:00 p.m., two dedicated buses connecting the Expo Access Plan venues were also set up to depart from Osaka Nanko at 7:40 and 8:40 in the morning, and from the Expo site in the evening at 19:00 and 21:00. In addition to this, upon arrival at 6:00 a.m., visitors could take the New Tram/Osaka Metro Chuo Line and subway to Yumeshima Station and line up at the East Gate before the gates opened at 9:00. In the Toyo area, where the ferry arrives and departs, there is an express bus option, but it takes 5 to 6 hours to arrive in Osaka, and only daytime service is available, so an overnight stay in the area is inevitable. The Orange Ferry, on the other hand, was originally located in the bay area near Yumeshima, and its popularity has exploded as an ideal means of access to the Expo. According to Orange Ferry, the 7:40 a.m. bus from Nanko arrives at the Expo site early, and the 9:00 p.m. bus from the Expo site, which allows passengers to view the drone show from the bus, is the most popular, with September being the busiest month. While the Orange Ferry was used extensively for access to the Expo, according to those in charge, there were other benefits as well. Many passengers commented that they were using the ferry for the first time or boarding for the first time since it was converted to private rooms. Orange Ferry’s focus on access to the Expo seems to have succeeded in attracting a new customer base, something that is difficult to achieve even with commercials. Even after the Expo closes, people will use the service between Toyo and Osaka, where no night buses are available, because they realize that it is “surprisingly convenient for both business trips and sightseeing! Will people notice and take advantage of this service? All eyes will be on Orange Ferry in the future as it seizes this opportunity.
© Source travel watch