Can Shohei Ohtani Still Boost Tourism to the U.S.?
Skift Take
Shohei Ohtani is possibly MLB's biggest star and Japan's most popular athlete: He's twice been the American League's MVP and has now moved to the Los Angeles Dodgers, one of MLB's biggest brands and most valuable franchises.
Ohtani could also boost tourism from his baseball-mad homeland to the United States — that is, if he doesn't face a suspension for being involved in a gambling scandal that broke out at the start of the MLB season.
JTB, Japan's largest travel agency, sees strong demand from Japanese fans to see Ohtani suit up for the Dodgers. The company, which announced a multi-year international partnership with MLB in late January, offered travel packages for the two-game season-opening series in Seoul, South Korea, between the Dodgers and the San Diego Padres in March.
JTB Branding and PR Manager Kaori Mori declined to disclose how many packages it sold. But the demand was so great, JTB had to conduct a lottery.
JTB has previously helped Japanese baseball fans travel to the U.S. to s
