JAL, which has bases throughout the country, has been continuously implementing initiatives to revitalize local communities (currently known as the “JAL Hometown Project”), and In August 2020, the company launched the “JAL Hometown Ambassadors” program, in which flight attendants selected through an internal application process relocate to local communities to promote initiatives in their respective regions. In December of the same year, the company also appointed the “JAL Hometown Support Team,” whose members engage in regional revitalization efforts while continuing to fly. The goal is to utilize the expertise cabin crew members have cultivated in their roles to develop products and address regional challenges in their hometowns or communities with which they have ties.
We spoke with Tamami Sugawara, a JAL Hometown Ambassador at the West Japan Branch who works on travel products for Higashiosaka City.
――Please tell us about your efforts.
Hello, everyone. This is Sugawara from the JAL Furusato Ambassador West Japan Branch. As the first installment of the JAL Dynamic Package “Yorimichi Osaka,” we’ve launched a travel package that takes you to Higashi-Osaka City!
The initiative was sparked by a comprehensive partnership agreement between JAL and Resona Bank. Driven by the desire to channel the increased interest in the Kansai region—sparked by the World Expo—into broader exploration of areas beyond the major tourist hubs like Kita and Minami, the City of Higashi-Osaka and the Higashiosaka Tourism Association to launch this initiative. This package includes 2,500 yen worth of digital coupons redeemable at 17 participating stores in “Higashiosaka (Ishikiri, Fuse, Nagata),” an area brimming with unique local charm!
――How are you involved in this initiative?
I actually visited the “Ishikiri Area” and the “Fuse Area,” where I experienced the unique charms of Higashiosaka through walking tours and culinary explorations. By sharing my firsthand experiences—including the local atmosphere, the food, and my interactions with residents—in my own words, I’m helping more people learn about Higashiosaka and encouraging them to visit in person. I even tried using the digital coupons myself! It’s so easy—just scan the QR code posted at the store with your smartphone—which is part of its appeal!
――Please tell us about your future plans and outlook.
Using this initiative in Higashiosaka City as a model, we intend to continue collaborating with local communities to showcase the unique charms of each region to travelers. As an airline, we aim to connect our customers with local communities and encourage them not only to visit their intended destinations but also to explore the surrounding areas. Through these efforts, we hope to increase the number of visitors to these regions and help revitalize local economies.
――Please share a message for travelers.
Higashiosaka offers a wide variety of attractions, including manufacturing and rugby, as well as lively shopping districts, unique culinary delights, historic shrines and temples, and the natural beauty of Mount Ikoma. It’s also exceptionally accessible, just a 30-minute train ride from central Osaka. We hope you’ll do more than just visit your intended destinations—we encourage you to stroll through the town, stop by local shops, and enjoy interacting with the locals. We’d be delighted if you could experience the “authentic Osaka” unique to Higashiosaka and leave thinking, “I’d love to come back!”
What did you think? Make your next trip to Osaka even more affordable! Why not add a few “detours” to your usual itinerary and experience all that Osaka has to offer?
© Source travel watch