Establishment of the Visit Japan Campaign (VJC) Promotion Committee in the French Republic and the VJC Promotion Committee in the Federal Republic of Germany

June 15, 2004

1. With a view to promoting the Visit Japan Campaign (VJC) in the French Republic, Japan is establishing the VJC Promotion Committee in the French Republic at 11:00pm on Friday, June 18 (4:00pm local time) at the Embassy of Japan, with Mr. Nobuteru Ishihara, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in attendance. The VJC Promotion Committee in the French Republic will be chaired by Mr. Hiroshi Hirabayashi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the French Republic. With a similar objective, the VJC Promotion Committee in the Federal Republic of Germany will be established at 10:00pm on Monday, June 21 (3:00pm local time) at the Embassy of Japan in Germany, which is to be chaired by Mr. Yushu Takashima, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Federal Republic of Germany.
2. The Committees will provide assistance and cooperation for marketing activities to increase the number of tourists visiting Japan, promote PR activities for attractions on tourism in Japan, and offer advice from a local perspective on the planning and implementation of the Visit Japan Campaign projects.
3. In response to the establishment of each committee in France and Germany, Minister Ishihara and the respective ambassadors will together co-host a "Tourism Evening" at the official residence of each ambassador to deepen understanding on VJC and to actively promote attraction of Japan as a tourist destination. These will be the first occasions for a "Tourism Evening" to be held at the official residence of an ambassador.