(September 16, 2004) Online Searchable Roster of JATA Members Headline An updated and enhanced roster of JATA active members is now available online at www.jata-net.or.jp/english. The new version adds a search function enabling users to search JATA's membership database according to the type of travel an agency offers and/or country/region of specialization. With this new function,travel suppliers interested in introducing thir products and services to the Japanese travel industry can quickly obtain a list of JATA members who meet theur criteria. This new online roster replaces the printed Membership Roster traditionally distributed at JATA World Tourism Congress & Travel Fair. In addition to the online roster,the official JATA website is a valuable tool for researching the Japanese travel industry. It includes industry news and information, regular reports on JATA activities,findings from JATA original market research,travel statistics and industry surveys. Active Members:Search by specialty/country/region (July 30, 2004) 47th JATA Annual General Meeting Held on June 24, 2004, at Century Hyatt Tokyo Headline The 47th JATA Annual General Meeting was held at the Century Hyatt Tokyo on June 24, 2004, with 92 companies in attendance and 677 letters of proxy for a total of 769 members represented. 47th JATA Annual General Meeting venue In his opening address JATA Chairman Shinmachi discussed JATA activities for the current fiscal year. Chairman Shinmachi's remarks The travel industry has made tremendous efforts to overcome a tumultuous time in its history. The fact that we could weather these difficulties has given us the confidence to further strengthen the base of our industry. This year we look back to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the liberalization of overseas travel in Japan and the 45th anniversary of the establishment of JATA, while happily looking forward to Expo Aichi 2005 and the opening of Chubu International Airport. At the same time we are most fortunate to be receiving the support of the government's tourism promotion program. How can all these favorable circumstances be tied to tangible results? We can do this through the positive development of the tourism trinity: overseas, domestic and inbound travel. We are aiming to encourage 20 million Japanese people to travel abroad by 2007 and welcome 10 million inbound travelers by 2010. As regards domestic travel, we will set new targets and make further efforts to clear them. In addition, in light of the new provisions and revisions to the Travel Agency Law, this year we must work as never before on improvements to our industry. Although up until now we could look upon the travel agency as a distribution channel, from this point on we need to build a value-added business, and take concrete actions that reflect the revisions in industry laws and provisions that will go into effect on April 1 next year. To this end, in June this year the travel industry established a new travel counselor certification system through which we would like to continue the training of talented industry professionals. The 2004 JATA World Tourism Congress & Travel Fair to be held in September this year will be the biggest and best to date, with more industry booths and greater overseas interest than ever before. Although we face many obstacles and difficulties, we must not see them negatively but should address them positively. Chairman Shinmachi Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Director-General for Tourism Kanazawa PowerPoint presentation by JATA Director & Secretary General Ishiyama In his remarks, Chairman Shinmachi also touched on the following six points: Creation of new travel demand Promotion of safe and anxiety-free travel and preparation and fortification of the crisis management system Expansion of travel industry activities in relation to the government's tourism promotion program Promotion of measures to strengthen business structural improvements triggered by the Travel Agency Law and provision revisions The 2004 JATA World Tourism Congress & Travel Fair Expansion of consumer access to information and improvement of member services Afterwards, attendees enjoyed chatting and exchanging opinions with other JATA members and executives before the 2004 47th JATA Annual General Meeting drew to a close. Attendees chat with other JATA members and executives Chairman Shinmachi (center) very much the center of attention (March 26, 2004) 2004 JATA Management Forum Held February 24, 2004 475 gather to discuss "Advancing by leaps and bounds: Taking up the challenge to accelerate market growth in the travel industry" Headline The 2004 JATA Management Forum got off to an early start at 9:30 Tuesday morning February 24 at the New Takanawa Prince Hotel in Tokyo, Japan. Under the overall theme for this year of "Advancing by Leaps and Bounds: Taking Up the Challenge to Accelerate Market Growth in the Travel Industry," some 475 member company executives and representatives from various travel industry organizations around the nation gathered to listen to such guest speakers as Ms. Asako Hoshino, Vice President of the Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. Market Intelligence Department, and to passionately debate and exchange opinions at the various plenary and subcommittee sessions accompanying the Forum. Addressing the gathering, JATA Chairman Koji Shinmachi said, "It is vital that the travel industry trinity - overseas, domestic and inbound travel - be promoted in a balanced fashion. Together let us discuss how we can achieve the targets of 10 million inbound travelers by 2010 and 20 million outbound travelers by 2007." Guest Speaker Satoru Kanazawa, Tourism Department, Director-General of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Policy Bureau urged everyone present to rally to the call, "One of the pillars of the new national establishment for the 21st century is the travel industry, of which you form the core. With your wholehearted support for the 'Visit Japan' promotion campaign initiated last year, we are sure to realize the goal set by this management forum of 10 million inbound travelers." 2004 JATA Management Forum Chairperson Shinmachi Satoru Kanazawa, Director-General, Tourism Department, Policy Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Special lecture / Travel industry business analysis / Special sessions The special lecture by Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. Market Intelligence Department Vice President Asako Hoshino at 9:50 am was followed by a tourist industry business analysis session featuring Japan Tourism Marketing Co. Chief Consultant Masahiro Isogai, and special sessions moderated by Mile Post President Fumihiro Sakakibara. Six breakout sessions were held immediately following. Ms. Hoshino elaborated on the remarkable progress at Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. in her talk entitled, "Nissan Motor Marketing Reform." Although not immediately apparent from the title, the talk concentrated on the importance of "service industry marketing" for forum participants, analyzing the topic from various angles, while pinpointing the individual features and differences between the manufacturing and service industries so as to offer greater insight into how the travel industry might be further developed. Mr. Isogai's analysis began by examining data related to current management conditions, considering such matters as shifts and projections associated with the amount of consumption and the number of overseas and domestic travelers, and then went on to introduce a view of the consumer by type according to a unique perspective in order to demonstrate how consumer tastes will change and how travel products might adapt. In the special sessions that followed, JATA Director & Secretary General Jun Ishiyama provided some of the background for the organization's stated goal of 20 million outbound travelers by 2007, after which the industry representatives on stage spoke to the various themes and problems facing the industry today, such as the ratio of the number of overseas travelers to plane seats, among other issues. This was followed by suggestions for prospective destination-based travel products and lively exchanges on what the industry must do if it is to meet the challenge of 20 million outbound travelers by 2007. Vice President Asako Hoshino Chief Consultant Masahiro Isogai Special sessions Theme-oriented breakout sessions feature Panel discussions At the six, breakout sessions participants discussed the future of the travel industry from a wide variety of perspectives based upon advice from the panelists, and question-and-answer exchanges. To draw the curtain on the 2004 JATA Management Forum, participants were encouraged to network and exchange ideas at the evening cocktail reception. During the event, Isao Takano, chairperson of the Managerial Issues Committee and Management Forum proposed a toast, saying: "Let's make 2004 a peaceful, fruitful year, where we can make progress by achieving our goal of 20 million travelers." Breakout session panel discussion JATA Management Forum Chairperson Takano Attendees exchange opinions back to the previous page Copyright(c) 2004 Japan Association of Travel Agents. All rights reserved.