Friday, April 10, 1998 | 10:54 a.m.
The SUN's Richard Velotta reports that the first nonstop service to the Pacific Rim on Boeing 747 jets could help jump-start international tourism from Japan, which is Las Vegas' No. 1 overseas market. Some 311,000 tourists visited Las Vegas from Japan in 1996, and this new flight is expected to add 38,000 additional tourists.
Another plus is that because this involves Northwest Airlines, it could result in even higher visitor counts for Las Vegas because Tokyo is one of the hub cities for the airline. This could result in tourists from Southeast Asia flying into Narita International Airport in Tokyo with their final destination being McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas.
A number of factors brought about this new flight, including a recent "open skies" agreement reached in February between Japan and the United States. This pact between the two nations established a framework to allow more international flights between the two nations. In addition, a group of private and government representatives from Southern Nevada -- Las Vegas Parties -- had been trying to get nonstop service to Las Vegas from Japan.
Now that nonstop service is being offered, the work isn't over. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, which has an office in Tokyo, is going to meet with Japanese officials to explain tour package opportunities for travel agents and visit Pacific Rim trade shows to get the word out.
Finding additional, more convenient ways to get tourists here is vital for the Las Vegas economy, especially with hotel expansion projects underway. Concerns already have been expressed that the number of visitors isn't keeping pace with the availability of hotel rooms. The number of new hotel rooms was up 6 percent in 1997, yet the number of visitors to Las Vegas increased just 3 percent.
The local economy gets a boost under the new nonstop flight service initiated by Northwest Airlines, which will offer flights Thursdays and Mondays between Las Vegas and Tokyo. And for those local residents looking to fly overseas there is also a new benefit.
Las Vegas is seeing its first tangible gain from the U.S.-Japan "open skies" agreement, which places an emphasis on giving international travelers more choices in cities into which they can fly directly. Let's hope it's just the first of many new offerings for international tourists to our economy.
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