1.Are Foreign Visitors Satisfied with Karuizawa?An interim report of our joint research project with Matsumoto UniversityAs reported in the last IAK Newsletter, we have started to research whether foreign visitors to Karuizawa are satisfied with the tourism infrastructure and services and what improvements are needed. Prof. Masuyama, a fellow IAK member, along with her Matsumoto University students, will make recommendations to the town authority and the Tourism Office based on the research. Through their investigation and excursion around the town in last April, June and August, we hope to discover the charms of Karuizawa and areas that need improvement on behalf of foreigners on extended visits.
★Survey on Foreign Visitors Satisfaction in KaruizawaIAK, together with Matsumoto University and Karuizawa Tourism Office, will conduct a survey of foreign visitors who stay here more than a night regarding their purpose of visit, length of stay, and satisfaction rate of the services (currency exchange or access to information, etc). The survey will be conducted this October in order to clarify short and long term improvement projects the town can move forward on.
★Editing Guidebook for Foreign Tourists Meanwhile, we are also planning to edit a guidebook that addresses the needs of foreign visitors by March 2016. It will reintroduce charms of Karuizawa and a few relaxing paths to be enjoyed on foot or by bicycles, and hopefully encourage all visitors to stay here longer. The guidebook will also be available on our website.
★Members’ Contribution IAK members are encouraged to direct specific improvement recommendations, such as dangerous roads for cycling, signs and guides needing to be corrected along with photos to Mr. Takaishi at
mktakaishi@nifty.com
2. Report of the
Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2015
On May 31 Sunday afternoon the 2015
AGM was held at Karuizawa Chuo-kominkan with 50 participants and 61 proxies with the following agenda:
1) Report of Revenue/Expenditure
2014 (unit: Yen)
Revenue
612,800
(Membership dues,
donation and admission fee of events)
Expenditure
504,596
(Events, Newsletters and
administrative costs )
Balance
108,204
Surplus brought from
2013 260,881
Total 2014 (carried
over to 2015)
369,085
2) Forecast of
Revenue/Expenditure 2015
Revenue
570,000
(Membership dues,
donation and admission fee of events)
Expenditure
737,000
(Events, Newsletters,
office rent and administrative costs)
Balance
- 167,000
Surplus brought from
2014
369,085
Total 2015 (to be
carried over to 2016)
- 202,085
The forecast includes the
joint survey with Matsumoto Univ. for current tourism in Karuizawa and start-up
of new IAK office in April. Visit the new office to have a look !
3) Revision of Annual
Dues
New
rate Current rate
Individual
membership 2,000 yen 1,000 yen
Family membership 2,500 yen 1,500 yen
Corpotate/Group
membership 10,000 yen 10,000 yen
Support(Donation)
membership 2,000 yen/unit 1,000 yen/unit (Individual)
10,000 yen /unit
(Corporate)
New rates will be
effective from April 2016.
Current rates shall have
been fixed since May 2012 when IAK established.
3. Launching of
Karuizawa Town Committee for G8 Ministers Conference 2016
G8 Ministers of
Transportation will assemble in Karuizawa on September 24 (Sat) and 25 (Sun) in
2016. Ministry of Land and Transportation will be in charge of hosting the
Conference and attendees, supported by Nagano Prefecture Office and Karuizawa
Town. For that purpose Town Office launched in July 2015 the Karuizawa Town
Committee to work out necessary arrangements in coordination with Prefecture
Government and IAK became a member of the Committee. For the first time, G8
Transportation Ministers will get together in Frankfurt Germany as a part of G8
Conference, in September, 2015.
The 2nd one
will be here in Karuizawa. The G8 leaders conference next year in Japan will be
in Toba, Mie Pref. in May, 2016.
7. IAK office open for
member’s use
- A meeting less than 10
attendees free of charge
- A meeting 50-60
attendees charge of use
- The above are accommodated
with airconditioners and hot water boilers, available 9am to 5pm on weekdays/weekend/holidays
unless occupied. Contact IAK Secretariat (See below) for reservation.
8 .Opening Member’s
Corner of exchanging information on Newsletter
Among 200 IAK members,
not all attend a weekly or annual event to know and talk each other. Newsletter will start the column of member’s
corner from the next issue where any member shows his/her self-introduction,
hobby, invitation to their event, advertisement of own business etc. Send your
message to IAK secretariat (See below) in the following manner:
- A Newsletter will be
issued three times a year and the next one to be around February 2016.
- Any message from an
individual, a family or a corporate/group, is welcome.
- A short message, in
case of Japanese less than 100 letters, is acceptable.
Unless the content of
message is appropriate from IAK activities viewpoint may be turned down for
printing.
9. Inquiry to International
Association of Karuizawa (IAK)
(Membership Application)
IAK welcomes anyone who is interested in the
activities described below.
Objectives
- Support of international residents and visitors
- Promotion of friendship among native and foreign residents
- Advice of improvement of city environment from
international standard
Membership Annual fee
- Individual 1,000 yen
- Family 1,500 yen
- Group/Corporate 10,000 yen
- Support (Donation) 1,000 yen per unit Individual/10,000 yen per unit Corporate
Application
Send an application mail to the above e-mail address
by filling in the name, age, nationality, membership, communication means
(e-mail address, tel and postal address)
and simultaneously transmit
annual due to the following bank account :
- Yucho
Bank (Japan Post Bank)
- Karuizawa
Kokusai Koryu-kyokai (IAK)
- Account
Number 00590-2-108934
