JNTO -- Promoting Tourism in Japan

Added: 04/13/2006

Created in 1964 to promote international exchange through tourism, the Japan National Tourist Organization or JNTO has since established itself as a leading tourism organization nationwide, involved in a broad range of tourist traffic to Japan through a number of activities overseas, as well as tourism promotion activities in Japan. These tasks and objectives are now pursued by Tourist Information Centers, established to consolidate reception facilities for foreign visitors and promote trade fairs and international conventions.

The Japan National Tourist Organization, commonly known as JNTO, is an Independent Administrative Institution of the Japanese government, established to promote travel to and in Japan and provide information about the country. It is headquartered in Yurakucho, Chiyoda, Tokyo. Through its web site and Tourist Information Centers, JNTO offers information concerning lodging, transportation, sightseeing, attractions, food and beverage in Japan.

The organization's publications assist in designing travel itineraries within Japan, offering a wide range of travel-related info in both Japanese and English on accommodations, shopping and major events. The materials of JNTO's web site are updated regularly, so that customers can choose from an array of the most popular attractions and best value accommodations.

The organization supports its goals and objectives by publishing travel literature and videos and conducting tourism-related research, as well as providing info on precautions for Japanese who travel overseas. Maintained by JNTO are thirteen offices in major cities nationwide, through which the organization carries out a range of promotions. One of the key functions of the overseas offices of the Japan National Tourist Organization is to assist the travel industry in selling travel to Japan to their customers. As part of the organization's services, JNTO offices are responsible for providing up-to-date information on travels to Japan; offering free brochures and video tapes to their clients; and rendering assistance to operators when they develop tours to the country. Composed of offices worldwide, JNTO is the reliable resource for travel-related information on Japan.

The organization's domestic offices can be found in Japan, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, China, Thailand, Korea and Australia. Incentive travel promotion is regarded as an integral part of the total marketing strategy of JNTO, as is the responsibility of the Japan Convention Bureau that acts as a liaison between the convention bureau representatives of the 49 government-designated International Convention Cities and international meeting planners.

The Japan National Tourist Organization is a sponsor of a Goodwill Guide Program, through which more than 47,000 volunteers render assistance to visitors from abroad. There currently exist nearly 77 Systematized Goodwill Guide groups throughout Japan, comprising housewives, students and retirees engaged in a range of activities, using foreign language skills.

While some of these groups offer complimentary walking tours, others meet tourists on request. As the Goodwill Guides are composed of volunteers, there is no charge for their service, except for their admissions to tourist facilities and travel expenses. Services for professional interpreters and guides are generally available through the Japan Federation of Licensed Guides or the Japan Guide Association. Registered within these organizations are a total of 1,500 guide-interpreters.

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