信州を楽しんでいるＭａｒｋさん
この間、地元の銀行の方が見えて、長野県で運営の苦しい旅館が沢山ある中で、長野県の銀行は出来る事があるかと、インバウンド(外国人の誘客）に関して相談してきました。
この写真のＭａｒｋさんを良く見てください。喜んでいるように見えますか？この方がコンクリートジャングルの東京から逃げてきて、自然で恵まれている信州に来ました。１泊の予定でしたが、地獄谷のお猿の温泉や、戸隠のスピリチュアルの山などを案内したら、結局３泊してくれました。この写真は初雪の戸隠奥社の杉並び木の所です。
つまり、積極的におもてなしをする事によって、お客さんが喜ぶ、長く滞在するようにしたくなる。外国人のお客さんだけじゃなくて、日本人も。
私が思いますが、運営が苦しい宿は例えば、散歩に出かける客さんにマップをただ渡すだけでしょう。又は取れるようにフロントにおいてあるだけ。亀清旅館では、戸倉上山田温泉のカラコロ散歩マップをわずとフロントにおいていない。出かけそうな雰囲気なお客様がいらっしゃれば、｢履物を出しましょうか？散歩の地図はいりますか？この地図を簡単に説明さしてくれたら、足湯はここ、陶芸、甘露煮、信州味噌のお店はここでそろっている｣等などとコミュニケーションをちゃんと取る。
ですから、銀行の方に言っておきました：苦しい旅館はインバウンドを始まる前に、まずおもてなしをチェック！日本人のお客さんが喜んでいなければ、外国人のお客さんこそきっと喜ばない。
The other day, a representative from our local bank came by. Many ryokans in the prefecture are struggling financially, and he was researching what they could do as the main bank. He wanted to discuss with me about "Inbound" -- attracting guests from overseas.
One inn nearby had been pursuing "Inbound" prior to our arrival. They had mentioned cases of backpackers coming for 2-3 nights, finding a lack of interesting things to do nearby, and leaving after 1 night.
See this guy in the picture? Does Mark look like he is enjoying himself? He came up to the mountains of Nagano to escape the concrete jungle of Tokyo. He had planned on staying 1 night, but when I explained to him about the Jigokudani snow monkeys and the spiritual trees of Togakushi, he ended up staying 3 nights. He is pictured here on his day trip to Togakushi.
That is the message I gave to the banker. Inns that are struggling are probably not practicing good "omotenashi" with their guests, and not just with their foreigner guests. As an example, I bet most inns just have a walking map for their town set out in the lobby for guests to pick up. We here at Kamesei don't put a map out at our front desk on purpose. When we see guests come to the lobby looking like they want to go for a stroll, we ask them if they want their shoes (or to use our wooden geta), and if they need a map. Then we show them on the map where the footbath is, the street lined with charming little shops, etc., etc. In other words, we have communication with the guests. It makes them appreciate our town and want to stay longer and/or come again.
So if an inn is struggling, I suggest they do a "omotenashi check", because if their Japanese guests aren't enjoying the inn, I doubt foreigners will either.
