Tourism from Japan rides on new Anne show's coattails

Tourism PEI is hoping to capitalize on a new television show airing in Japan about the woman who translated Anne of Green Gables into Japanese.

The 156-episode show about Hanako Muraoka started last month, and the P.E.I. tourism industry is already seeing results. Enquiries from Japan to the Tourism PEI website are up 47 per cent, and one tour operator is reporting its bookings from Japan have tripled this year.

Tourism P.E.I. has teamed up with the Canadian Tourism Commission to take as much advantage of the marketing opportunity as possible. As part of the $140,000 initiative, they've hired actor Celia Koughan to play the part of Anne Shirley, the book's main character, for a tour of Japan.