P.E.I. tourism industry hopes new animated Anne series will bring back Japanese visitors
The number of Japanese visitors to Prince Edward Island has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels, but there is hope that a new animated series about Anne of Green Gables will help revive interest in the Island. The new Anne Shirley anime series, which continues the story beyond the original book, is set to air on the NHK network in April. Tourism operators on the Island are optimistic that the series will attract more Japanese tourists, as many travel agents in Japan are already promoting tie-ins with the show.
Katsue Masuda, a guide with P.E.I. Select Tours who has been welcoming Japanese visitors to the Island for years, is encouraged by the buzz surrounding the new anime series. She mentions that many Japanese visitors have fond memories of the original Anne of Green Gables animated series from 1979 and that the new series could spark renewed interest in visiting Prince Edward Island.
Anne of Green Gables has a special place in Japanese culture, with the book being first translated into Japanese in 1952 and becoming a bestseller. The 1979 animated series had a significant impact on children in Japan, and many visitors from Japan grew up watching it. Despite a decline in Japanese visitors to P.E.I. since 2014, the tourism industry is hopeful that the new anime series will help attract more visitors from Japan.
The tourism industry in Prince Edward Island has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, with Japanese visitor numbers remaining low in recent years. However, there is anticipation that the animated series will lead to a resurgence of interest in visiting the Island. The Tourism Industry Association of Prince Edward Island is keeping a close eye on the impact of the series on tourism numbers and is hopeful that it will bring more visitors to the Island.
With the new anime series set to premiere in April, the company behind the show is planning a series of events and promotions to generate excitement among Japanese audiences. Prince Edward Island tourism officials are optimistic that the buzz surrounding the series will translate into increased interest in visiting the Island. As a beloved story in Japan, Anne of Green Gables has the potential to attract a new generation of visitors to Prince Edward Island.
Overall, there is a sense of optimism within the tourism industry in Prince Edward Island that the new Anne of Green Gables anime series will breathe new life into Japanese tourism to the Island. With its timeless story and enduring popularity in Japan, the series has the potential to bring back visitors and showcase the beauty of Prince Edward Island to a new audience.
