Press Releases

Holding of the “Joint Press Conference Targeting 20 Million People Traveling Abroard”

June 17, 2026
Japanese
Four panelists are seated at a table on stage at a joint press conference, with a backdrop displaying the Japan Tourism Agency logo
Group photo of four panelists at a joint press conference photo session
Group photo of participants at “Encouraging on Overseas Travel” talk show hosted by Japan Association of Travel Agents. Approximately 20 attendees, including men and women and the
  1. On June 16, the Japan Tourism Agency (JTA), the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), and the Association of National Tourist Office Representatives in Japan (ANTOR-JAPAN) held a “Joint Press Conference Targeting 20 Million People Traveling Abroard,” attended by Mr. MURATA Shigeki, Commissioner of the JTA; Mr. MIBAE Taisuke, Director-General/Assistant Minister of the Consular Affairs Bureau of MOFA; Mr. TAKAHASHI Hiroyuki, Chairperson of JATA; and Mr. Raul Guerra, Chairman of ANTOR-JAPAN. This event forms part of a series of public-private initiatives to promote outbound travel, following the Now is the Time to Travel Abroad! Declaration issued jointly by the JTA and JATA in May 2023, and the More! Overseas Declaration issued jointly by the JTA, MOFA, and JATA in March 2025.
  2. With regard to “developing an environment for safe and seamless overseas travel” as part of the whole-of-government effort to promote outbound travel, Director-General MIBAE introduced three areas on which MOFA will focus going forward: (1) reducing passport fees; (2) strengthening the dissemination of overseas safety information, including through the overseas travel registration service (Tabi-Regi); and (3) strengthening the framework for the protection of Japanese nationals in terms of both hard and soft aspects, in preparation for any emergency that may arise. He also called on travelers to take out overseas travel insurance when going abroad, from the perspective of the protection of Japanese nationals.
  3. In the subsequent “Encouraging on Overseas Travel” talk show hosted by JATA, JATA Overseas Travel Ambassador Mr. IWATA Takanori and comedian Tonikaku Akarui Yasumura took the stage to share their experiences of traveling abroad. The “2025 Passport,” the upcoming reduction in passport fees, and the Tabi-Regi service were also introduced, with the appearance of “Passpo-kun,” the official mascot character of the Japanese passport.
  4. Working toward the target set in the Tourism Nation Promotion Basic Plan of achieving the record high of 20.08 million Japanese outbound travelers by 2030, MOFA will continue to coordinate and cooperate with the JTA and JATA while advancing efforts to develop an environment for safe and seamless travel.

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