proxy-plush-travel-shodoshima-loneliness-economy-local-marketingA · FULL TRANSLATION

A neat sample for tourism marketers: FUNDARD and the Shodoshima Tourism Association launched a 7th 'proxy plush' travel series, sending a doll made in your likeness on an olive tour of Shodoshima. It looks niche but converts the 'want to go but can't' need into local-tourism exposure and revenue. The design is clever on three levels: it taps the loneliness economy and a desire for healing; the plush's photos at scenic spots are ready-made SNS content that markets the destination for free; and it ties regional revitalization to the creator economy at low cost. For Taiwan, the lesson is that Japanese regions are marketing with ever more emotional, granular tactics rather than discounts - turning limits into selling points beats a price war.