Earthquake, tsunami
Sight and smell I can’t forget
I am not the same

When we landed in Tokyo, we were the first ones at immigration.  It was a bit of an anomaly, as we not only flashed through immigration but also through customs.  We wielded our Flight of Friendship stickers, our pins, our t-shirts proudly as we exited the airport and prepared to face Japan.  Really, it hadn’t changed, but, really, it had…

You are the first large group to Japan since March 11.

With that simple statement, Sue-san, our tour guide established a sense of urgency in all of us that was quickly quelled by the realization that we were already doing our part. Against many odds and obstacles, we were here.

March 11, 2011 will be the new benchmark for disasters and the effects of the continuing struggle between Mother Nature and humanity.  A 9.0 earthquake, a 10 meter (33 foot) tsunami that, in places, reached 10 km (6 miles) inland and a devastated nuclear power plant that had the world on edge.

A humble group of Americans and Japanese had come to raise spirits, strengthen resolve, provide an economic injection and lend our backs to the recovery efforts. To remind the Japanese that they are real, that they are relevant and that they are not forgotten.  And with that in mind, some of us put on our best “tourist” hats and hit the expectant crowds of Tokyo…  that never materialized…

When people think of Japan, they probably think “crowded” and “packed” anywhere and everywhere, and for many of us who had been to Japan before, we knew this to be true.  So when we stepped onto the grounds of Asakusa, one of the most famous attractions of Tokyo and Japan, the quietude that displaced the normal cacophony of the crowds was shocking.

When a group took to the ocean off the coast of Sendai to visit Matsushima, one of the three most celebrated scenic attractions in Japan (the other two are Miyajima and Amanohashidate), they were the first international visitors the residents and proprietors of the islands had seen since that fateful day.  Imagine not seeing any visitors at the Mt. Rushmore or Carlsbad or Yosemite for over three months.  But this was their reality. You could already see the recovery in the places we visited.  Where once doors were closed, shopkeepers welcomed us with smiles and open arms.  This was indicative of not just Sendai, but Tokyo as well. Visitors can have peace of mind in knowing that Japan is ready to showcase itself once again as a treasure to be taken in first hand.

In the words of a friend: I remember the faces of the shopkeepers in Matsushima who had only re-opened their stores three weeks earlier as we bought mementos that may have been worthless to us, but right then, were priceless to them.

We weren’t there to be a catalyst for change; we were there to be a catalyst to return things to the way they used to be.

Truth be told, the logistics of trying to help with the recovery efforts are daunting, but there are so many more ways that we were able to help, and as strong and stoic as the Japanese people are, one thing was obvious no matter where we went…  Japan needs its friends now, more than ever.

Have no doubt, Japan is on the road to recovery on the backs of a strong, resilient people instilled with dignity and cultural pride. The recent win of the Women’s World Cup by the Japanese Women’s Soccer team demonstrated to the world what the Japanese are all about and that Japan’s future is bright.  Together, we can help get them there faster and in the company of friends and partners. They say that when times are hardest, that is when you know who your true friends are.  Well folks, now is a great time to demonstrate your friendship with the Land of the Rising Sun.

It’s too late to join the Flight of Friendship that Azumano led just a month ago, but it’s not too late to do your own thing and make your own contribution.  Go there, be a tourist, visit friends or family, offer a smile, a nod of understanding and experience that infamous Japanese hospitality.

You can read more about the Flight of Friendship and the people they met, experiences they had and memories they shared on Sean’s blog.

I could spend this whole post sharing impressive statistics with you — for example, the tourism industry provides more than 28,000 jobs in the Portland metro area, and overnight visitors contribute approximately $265 million annually to the Portland economy — but I think I’ll leave it up to our local business owners to share their perspectives on how international tourism impacts them.

Charles Froelick, owner of Froelick Gallery and president of the Portland Art Dealers Association, talks about how his business is directly supported by international tourism.

When you visit Portland, the food cart experience must be on your “to-eat” list. These local foodie icons have been featured in national and international culinary publications, drawing in business for cart owners such as Nong Poonsukwattana.

The hotel industry provides a great service not only to leisure and business travelers, but also to the local job market. Pedro Melendez is the Director of Engineering at the Doubletree Hotel Portland and came to Portland to build the American dream for his family.

Jeff Miller
President and CEO
Travel Portland

Photo credits: Courtesy of Travel Portland

These flights are important because they allow me to provide clients with diverse options, and they help companies save time and money — this is key to a successful business.

They are also very important for our economy, giving local businesses the opportunity to reach markets in Europe and Asia to sell their goods or services.  In the same way, having these flights gives Portland a competitive advantage when international corporations are looking to establish a headquarters in the U.S., which creates jobs … and also helps me acquire new clients!

Having this competitive edge helps boost Oregon’s entire hospitality and tourism industry.  As a previous hotel sales professional, I had the opportunity to reach out to the Asian tour market and was able to shift some tour business to Portland from other cities, not only because of the beauty of our state, but also because they were able to fly nonstop.

Having direct flights to Europe and Asia affects us all in a positive way, both directly and indirectly.  I will continue to support these flights any way I can because it makes business sense.

Thank you!

Andy Palacios
Business Development Manager
River City Travel

Around the holidays, our 90+ German expats in Portland filled two planes alone with their family members, returning to Europe for their annual Home Leave.

With the loss of the non-stop service, the increase in both travel time and travel cost has cast a burden upon our staff members, driving an inequity into their pursuits of the perfect Life-Work balance.  The one or two days of productivity gained through less fatigue and the shorter travel time is sorely missed.  The second-best alternate 1-stop routing choices across Amsterdam, San Francisco, Atlanta, Vancouver, Denver, Seattle, Chicago, Washington D.C or even Detroit are welcome, but we long for the return of the non-stop service between Frankfurt and Portland.

Roger Nielsen
Chief Operating Officer
Daimler Trucks North America

One of the things most people don’t realize about nonstop service from Portland direct to Tokyo or Amsterdam is the precious cargo that is carried underneath.  Farmers in Oregon use this service to transport perishable fresh goods such as cherries and blueberries to these markets.  The nonstop service makes this possible and allows others around the world to enjoy our wonderful food as much as we do.

When visiting Amsterdam or Tokyo, the two sites I highly recommend are the Aalsmeer Flower Auction outside of Amsterdam and the world’s largest fish market, Tsukiji market in Tokyo.  Both can boast being the largest in the world, and the sights and sounds are absolutely amazing.  Yes, you do have to get up early in the morning to see these incredible auctions, but the experience is well worth it.

I would encourage any traveler planning a trip to Tokyo or Amsterdam to make sure you use the Delta nonstop service.  Maintaining this gateway in Portland is critical to all of Oregon’s economy including agriculture.

Katy Coba
Director
Oregon Department of Agriculture

Photo credits: Aalsmeer Flower Market, Jeaneeem; Tsujiki Fish Market, Gin_e; Katy Coba, Courtesy of Oregon Department of Agriculture

These travelers are enjoying the natural beauty of the area…Haystack Rock, Indian Beach, Chapman Point not to forget the scenic hiking trails from Ecola State Park to Tillamook Head and nearby Oswald West State Park just south of Cannon Beach. The local shops and art galleries add to the experience creating days of shopping opportunities. Great food is abundant as Cannon Beach hosts some of the Pacific Northwest’s finest chefs. We are looking forward to the increase of international visitors to Cannon Beach as these travel media writers share the story.

Ryan Snyder
President
Martin Hospitality

Photo credits: All photos courtesy of Martin Hospitality

I play the traditional Japanese end-blown bamboo flute called shakuhachi. The shakuhachi is a simple looking flute, with only five holes, and the traditional music is very subtle, often used for meditation. But it is also possible to play jazz and other kinds of music. My compositions often feature flavors from around the world and they represent an appreciation and respect for all kinds of music gained in my ethnomusicology studies in Hawaii. I feel lucky that the shakuhachi can make so many interesting sounds!

I am connected in many ways to both Oregon and Japan. I built a dome house from Oregon Dome in the Japanese countryside about two hours outside Tokyo and have been living and working in Japan for more than 30 years. Since performing for the Japan-America Society of Oregon 25 years ago, I have had the opportunity to perform in the Portland area many times. A great city with everything … I have especially enjoyed working with fantastic jazz musicians who live there.

How did all this happen to a California surfer? I caught a big wave and rode it to Hawaii and became interested in Asian music at the university there.  Then I caught another big wave and ended up in Japan, where I still surf, but mostly I am busy performing, composing and making the shakuhachi and a new bamboo drum I invented.

My advice to those visiting Portland: Besides the great restaurants, check out some of the good quality live music, and go for a hike in the nearby Columbia River Gorge.

My advice to those visiting Tokyo: Check the English newspaper for performance listings for all kinds of music, and after you do the city thing (Akihabara Electric Town, etc.) visit a hot spring resort in the countryside or a beautiful sea village like my home town Kamogawa. You might see me surfing while playing the shakuhachi?!?

John Kaizan Neptune
Musician, Composer, Instrument Maker

Experience John Neptune’s famous music live in Portland Friday, October 30th at Japan-American Society of Oregon‘s Tea House Jazz performance.

Photo credits: Shakuhachi, Krista & Rob, John Neptune photos courtesy of John Neptune

We will be boarding the nonstop flight to Tokyo with Delta. This is both a personal preference and a sound business decision for the city of Portland. I choose to avoid transferring though multiple airports as much as possible. Quicker flights and fewer delays mean my time is spent doing what I need to do – selling Portland to the world.

This is also important for the city. In the past week, I have met with several incoming business delegations from Japan, and my first point with each of them is to emphasize our direct flights with their country. This is of critical importance in recruiting new businesses, helping our existing companies expand, and marketing Portland as an international city. I believe that PDX will soon host a wider variety of international flights, and to make this happen, it is important that we all use our existing international air service.

The Delta direct flights support important links between Portland and likeminded cities that allow for the exchange of ideas and cultures. While visiting Amsterdam and other nearby European cities, I was able to gather important innovations for our city to improve transportation and energy conservation. Similarly, on my upcoming trip to Japan, we will examine how best to prepare our city for electric vehicles. Direct flights to Asia and Europe create business opportunities across the globe, allowing us to benefit from cutting-edge trends and innovations.  They expose us to a diversity of cultures and connect us to the global community.  When Portlanders travel, they make Portland a better place.

Photo credits: Courtesy of the office of Mayor Sam Adams

Having international flights is crucial to our business. Blueberries can be shipped via airplane and within a day or two of landing, be available at the country’s supermarket.  With the aid of nonstop international flights through Portland International Airport, we have been able to supply Japan since 1996, and more recently expand to  Singapore and Hong Kong as well as other Asian markets. If these international flights were not available, we would have a much smaller, more competitive market in which to sell our product.

Ventures in these international markets has also given us the opportunity to travel to and visit with our customers.  It is always a treat to sit down in a small izakaya (a small bar/restaurant that serves fresh, traditional dishes such as sashimi or–one of my favorites–a ramen noodle hot bowl) and discuss new business.

We thank the International Air Service Committee for supporting our business and look forward to more direct connections to other countries in the future.  With these continued flight partnerships, we look forward to showing the world what our state has to offer one blueberry at a time.

Jeff Malensky
Vice President, International Sales
Oregon Berry Packing, Inc.

Portland is one of only 12 U.S. cities with nonstop service to both Europe and Asia and we are the smallest of the 12. It will take work to retain these essential connections.

That is why we recently launched this blog and initiated a Facebook page. Our goal is to begin creating a larger community dialogue about the importance of our international nonstops and to show to our airline partners that, though we are a small market, we are a feisty one, and we will do all we can to keep and grow international air service.

We hope that by logging on, entering a comment or joining us a Facebook fan that you will be part of this dialogue and of the overall effort. More importantly, I encourage anyone who is traveling to Europe or Asia to consider taking our international nonstops. Your support can mean so much in keeping these critical global connections right here—serving Portland, the state and our region.

Why should you care? Because these flights contribute to the cultural and international exchanges that enrich lives and help our economy. And, they save you valuable time.

From an economic standpoint, our international flights generate about $141 million in economic impacts–bolstering our local hotel, restaurant and entertainment industries. Estimates are that travelers to and from Europe and Asia have nearly doubled in our region since these nonstops began. Whether hosting a foreign visitor here, traveling overseas to meet with customers, see relatives or explore the world, the ability to easily get to and from foreign destinations is part of what makes our region so special.

One of the things I appreciate most when I travel on our nonstops is the time that it saves. I often use that time to acclimate myself and physically and mentally prepare for the meetings I have scheduled. This usually includes a 30-minute run and one of my favorite courses is around the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. Running around the sublime and peaceful setting of the Imperial Palace juxtaposed against the steel and glass towers that now define Tokyo at 6 in the morning is just the way to start the day. If you have a favorite run or other activity you use to shake off the effects of overseas travel and take advantage of the time you’ve saved on our nonstops I’d love to hear about it as part of this new dialogue we are creating. You just may help convince some others who may not use our nonstops to join us in this important effort. Thanks for checking us out!

Bill Wyatt
Executive Director, Port of Portland
Co-Chair, International Air Service Committee