The WEST NARA Wide Area Tourism Promotion Council is an organization comprised of eleven organizations: Ikaruga Town (the hub of the organization that is home to the World Cultural Heritage site of Horyu-ji Temple); Yamatokoriyama City; Heguri Town; Sango Town; Ando Town; Oji Town; Ikaruga Town Tourism Association; Yamatokoriyama City Tourism Association; Oji Town Tourism […]

Located to the east of the center of Shodoshima Island in the Setouchi National Park, Shodoshima Town is known as the birthplace of olive cultivation in Japan. Blessed with a beautiful natural environment, it is surrounded by the sea and mountains, with a pleasant climate, mild temperatures, and little rainfall. Kankakei Gorge, with its spectacular […]

Empowering Sustainable Tourism through Collaboration The SDG Tourism Task Force Initiative is a powerful platform driving sustainable tourism practices in Latin America and the Caribbean. This innovative program equips destinations with the tools and knowledge they need to thrive. Key Highlights: -Collaborative Workshops: Interactive sessions bring together stakeholders from governments, NGOs, and the private sector […]

The Africa Traveltech Summit & Expo, a premier gathering of travel and technology enthusiasts, is gearing up for its highly anticipated 2nd edition, scheduled to take place on 24 – 25 September 2024. Hosted at the prestigious Villa Rosa Kempinski in Nairobi, Kenya, the event promises to be an unparalleled platform for networking, learning, and […]

Hailing from Tokyo, Takako Sakai has an extensive background in tourism-related roles, having previously worked with Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), Hawaii Tourism Japan and Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau (TCVB). Currently serving as a Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer (2022, Feb 16th ~ 2024, Feb 15th), Sakai contributes to Zlatibor Tourism Organization, a mountain resort […]

Yusuke Sugimura, a native of Tokyo, Japan, has dedicated five and a half years of his professional career to fostering tourism and supporting local economies. Working as a municipal employee in the Industrial Promotion Division of Chofu City Office in Tokyo, Sugimura spearheaded projects related to tourism promotion and regional economic development. Sugimura’s current mission […]

Kuroshima-cho, Sasebo City, saw an increase in the number of tourists after Villages on Kuroshima Island was inscribed as a World Cultural Heritage site as one of the component properties of Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region. However, there is a lack of infrastructure such as public restrooms and transportation on the island. As […]

Narazuke, as the name suggests, is a specialty of Nara, and is said to have a history of approximately 1,200 to 1,300 years. It is a traditional type of pickle with a unique flavor created by preserving vegetables in sake lees. Nara is also said to be the birthplace of sake, and Narazuke is popular […]

In the city of Ozu, Ehime Prefecture, a group led by a DMO is making efforts for active use of traditional townhouses (machiya) and old private houses that are historical resources but had become unoccupied. They transformed these into Nipponia Hotel Ozu Castle Town, and thereby assisted the revitalization of vacant housing in the city’s […]

In the Fifth Okinawa Basic Plan for Tourism Promotion, formulated in FY2012 , Okinawa Prefecture positioned its future vision for FY2021 as “a world-class tourist resort destination” and established the “Okinawa Tourism Outcome Indicators” with 40 criteria in five areas, including economy, tourists, prefectural residents, environment, and management. In addition, the Sixth Okinawa Basic Plan […]