CASE 3:
Tourism Marketing:
Kobe Local Stories Travel Book Project | Taiwan Publisher Uni-Books
Tourism Marketing | Publishing | Storytelling | Video Content | Destination Branding
Make it stand out
This Kobe project reflects our core belief:
Destination marketing is most powerful when it is told through real people.
By combining publishing experience, tourism insight, storytelling, and multimedia production, we create travel content that resonates with modern readers and inspires meaningful journeys.
Rebranding Kobe for Taiwanese Travelers
A cross-media project combining guidebook publishing, video storytelling, and local community collaboration.
01. Background
With over 20 years of experience as a travel reporter and author of more than 20 Taiwan-published Japan travel guidebooks, combined with 5 years as a Social Media Specialist at Hong Kong Tourism Board, our team has a deep understanding of the tourism industry, Japan’s regional culture, and the publishing market in Taiwan.
Living in Kobe for many years, we recognized that the city remains one of Japan’s most underrated destinations for Taiwanese travelers. While Osaka and Kyoto dominate West Japan tourism, Kobe—an elegant seaside port city—remains a hidden gem rich in history, architecture, culture, food, and creative lifestyle.
The launch of direct flights from Taiwan to Kobe created a rare opportunity to introduce Kobe in a new, compelling way.
02. Challenge
Kobe has strong cultural and tourism assets, but:
It is overshadowed by more famous neighboring cities
Awareness among Taiwanese travelers remains low
Traditional travel guidebooks no longer stand out in a digital world
The city’s charm is rooted in local life, not standard sightseeing
Destination marketing today needs personal storytelling, not generic recommendations
We needed a fresh narrative and a new way to position the city.
03. Our Concept & Strategy
We designed a unique tourism marketing project:
“A Local Friend Guides You in Kobe” — a Human-Centered Travel Guide for Taiwanese Readers
Storytelling Instead of Just Information
Modern travelers don’t just need facts—they need emotional connection. So we focused on people, not just places.
Interviews with 18 Kobe Residents
We curated a diverse group: chefs ,artists, historians, café owners, university students, entrepreneurs, long-term foreign residents, community leaders. This mixes local culture with true insider recommendations.
Multi-Format Content: Book + Video + Social Media
To reach modern audiences, the project is not limited to print. We produced: :
Interview videos (YouTube / Instagram Reels)
Behind-the-scenes storytelling clips
Local lifestyle photography
Short-form travel tips optimized for social platforms
The strategy: Use video to promote the book, while keeping premium content exclusive to the printed guide.
Collaboration with Publisher & Local Communities
We are planning to partner with:
A Taiwan lifestyle book publisher Uni-books
Kobe local communities
Kobe Tourism Board (for coordination, support, and promotion)
This ensured cultural accuracy, wider reach, and trusted positioning.
04. Our Role in the Project
We provided end-to-end tourism marketing expertise:
Concept Development & Destination Positioning
Rebranding Kobe for Taiwanese audiences:
“Not just a city to visit—
a city to experience through the people who live here.”