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JAPAN National Tourism Organization (JNTO), Japan Travel and Tourism Association (JTTA) and Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA) held jointly event of Tourism Expo Japan (TEJ) 2019 kicks off today at Intex Osaka.
The opening ceremony was attended by Hiromi Tagawa, Chairperson of Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA), Shigeto Kubo, President & COO, Japan Travel and Tourism Association, Satoshi Seino, President of Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), Shinichi Fukushima, Chairmain of Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau, Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General, United Nation World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
According to Satoshi Seino at the opening ceremony on Thursday afternoon (Oct 24) said in conjunction with TEJ 2019 and the Visit Japan Travel & MICE Mart (VJTM) for the first time in the Kansai region in Osaka. In recent year Osaka and Kansai are attracting attention from both Japan and overseas as a variety of events are scheduled to be held here including the Rugby World Cup, World Masters Games in 2021 and World Expo in 2025.
“At TEJ showcase with over 1,500 booths representatives from 47 frefectures, travel suppliers from more than 100 countries an regions as well as 500 travel planners nationwide gathered for business talks to create new demand and develop tourism market,” he said.
Satoshi Seino mentioned that about 330 foreign travel agencies and media from 33 countries joined VJTM this year. As tie-up between VJTM and TEJ, inspection tours of TEJ exhibit booths for VJTM are provided again this year on the second day of the travel showcase meetings, while TEJ exhibitors provide seminar for VJTM buyers.
Meanwhile at same occasion, Hiromi Tagawa said this expo for the first time held in outside of Tokyo. We are realizing good responses similar to those of Tokyo in the past as the number of exhibition booths exceeded our expectations.
“The figure points to high degree of expectation placed in TEJ held in Osaka-Kansai, while embodying the potential power of Osaka-Kansai as a whole region. We also in collaboration with UNWTO held the 3rd Ministerial Round Table Meeting this year to welcome tourism leaders from 23 counties on the theme “Community Vitalization: People and Culture” tourism ministers and representatives of tourism-related organizations from around the world will engage in exchanging ideas and opinions,” Hiromi Tagawa said.
He also added that hopefully in this year of Tourism Expo Japan, participants are expected to witness the widening base of tourism industry and expansion of worldwide tourism industry. Especially tourism is expected to continue to serve as an important driver of global economic growth. [traveltext.id]
