Japan Travel and Tourism Association, Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA) and Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) announced that ‘Tourism EXPO Japan 2025’ will be held in Aichi Sky Expo in Aichi Prefecture for four days from September 25 to 28 2025.
Hiroyuki Takahashi, JATA Chairman, revealed that the first EXPO in Aichi will have three main themes of ‘decentralization of inbound tourists to local areas,’ ‘long-term supports to tourism promotion in Hokuriku area damaged by Noto Peninsula Earthquake,’ and ‘extension of international network from Centrair Airport.’
Chubu area and Hokuriku area have been cooperating in tourism promotion, and economic federations in both of the areas expect that the EXPO will be a great opportunity to encourage inbound travelers from Centrair Airport to Hokuriku area, which may contribute to earlier recovery from the earthquake damages.
(左から)JATA髙橋会長、中部経済連合会の宮本氏、北陸経済連合会の牧野氏、愛知県観光協会専務理事の榊原仁氏。
Tourism EXPO Japan 2024 can be a chance for outbound travel recovery?
Tourism EXPO Japan 2024 will open in Tokyo Big Sight on September 26 2024 with a theme of Travel, An Encounter With New Value Awaits. As of today, 80 countries and regions, more than 70 countries and regions last year, will exhibit in the EXPO. “This will be an opportunity to send a message of Japan’s travel market recovery to the world,” Takahashi said. “An increase in exhibitions by foreign countries and regions represents their expectation to the Japanese market. We expect that the EXPO will be an important step to recovery of the outbound travel market toward complete recovery next year.”
The organizers have forecasted that business meetings will reach 7,000 or more, more than 5,768 last year, and about 180,000 visitors for four days, exceeding 148,000 visitors last year in Osaka.
At a keynote discussion, Eduardo Santander, Europe Travel Commission CEO, Eijiro Yamakita, JTB CEO and another two regional representatives in Japan will talk about expansion of tourism exchanges.
TEJ Tourism Ministers Conference will be joined by tourism ministers from 10 to 15 countries, UN Tourism World Travel & Tourism Council, Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA).
In addition, a variety of tourism professional seminars for each domestic, inbound and outbound market. The 8th Japan Tourism Award will honor organizations, corporates or individuals for their contributions to tourism development efforts.
(左から)日本観光振興協会の最明理事長、JATA髙橋会長、JNTO高橋理事長代理。
Expansion of domestic travel exhibitions
The domestic travel exhibitions will be expanded, featuring ‘dark sky tourism, ‘driving tourism,’ ‘adventure tourism,’ ‘academy,’ ‘cruise,’ ‘theme-oriented tourism’ and ‘sports tourism.’ Hitoshi Saimyo, Japan Travel and Tourism Association Chairman, said, “We want to create opportunities for high-value travel and luring travelers to local regions in the Expo.”
In addition, special exhibitions featuring 2025 Osaka Kansai EXPO, tourism in Hokuriku and the 60th years anniversary of overseas travel liberalization.
Visit Japan Travel & MICE Mart for inbound buyers
JNTO will host Visit Japan Travel & MICE Mart, joined by 280 international buyers (including 15 MICE buyers) and 300 domestic sellers. Business meetings are supposed to total 6,000 or more.
After the Mart, about 250 international buyers will join 12 different FAM tours in eastern Japan. JNTO expects to partner with Tourism EXPO Japan for international buyers to collect tourism information from domestic travel exhibitors.
