No.80 Establishment of the Inagi City Tourism Association

On May 31, 2018, the inaugural general meeting was held, and on the following day, June 1, 2018, the incorporation was completed, establishing the Inagi City Tourism Association.
Tourism in the city has been one of the important policies I have been working on as a promise since I took office as mayor.
The main activities carried out over the past seven years include organizational reforms to establish a tourism department, the enactment of regulations for the hiring of term-limited staff, appointing a private sector experienced person as the head of the tourism division, creating a tourism map, holding tourism walking tours, constructing the antenna shop "Inagi Communication Base Pair Terrace" to introduce the city, outsourcing the management of the facility instead of having it directly operated by City Hall, formulating the Inagi City Tourism Basic Plan, installing Inagi Free Wi-Fi, multilingualizing the city website, attracting hotels, and expanding Friendship City relationships and hosting exchange events.
And in the next stage, the establishment of the Tourism Association was a challenge.
In fiscal year 2017, we established the "Inagi City Tourism Association Establishment Study Council" to investigate precedents from other cities and discuss the organization and functions of the tourism association, as well as the schedule for its establishment. In February 2018, we compiled our findings into a report and received recommendations.

In the fiscal year 2018, the membership of this council was strengthened, and the "Inagi City Tourism Association Establishment Preparatory Committee" was established. They discussed the draft articles of incorporation, details of operations, securing members, and the entrusted management of the Pair Terrace, which led to the establishment general meeting.
The Tourism Association aims to enhance the city's appeal by utilizing local resources such as Inagi City's nature, scenery, culture, history, and agricultural and livestock products, promoting tourism business, widely disseminating this information both domestically and internationally to attract visitors to Inagi City, thereby increasing the population of exchange and contributing to the revitalization of the region, the enrichment of citizens' lives, and the development of local culture.
The Tourism Association is a general incorporated association and is expected to receive subsidies from the city, but it is a private organization. In addition to those recommended by organizations such as the Commerce and Industry Association, Agricultural Cooperative, Federation of Arts and Culture Organizations, Citizen Activity Support Center, and Junior Chamber International, companies such as Yomiuriland, JR East, Keio Corporation, hotel operators, and Tokyo Verdy also participate, and I am also listed as an advisor.
The new chairperson is Dr. Taku Samejima, an associate professor in the Human Comprehensive Studies and Tourism Culture Program, which was established at Komazawa Women's University in April of this year. Dr. Samejima holds a Master's degree in Tourism from Rikkyo University and is a former backpacker who has traveled to 60 countries around the world. Before taking up his teaching position, he worked as a theme travel planning producer for eco-tours and other projects at HIS Co., Ltd., and he is a promising talent expected to make significant contributions in the future.
In addition, through this connection, on June 8, 2018, a "Partnership Agreement for Tourism Community Development among Inagi City, Komazawa Women's University, and the Inagi City Tourism Association" was concluded. We hope that the unity of the three parties will further promote tourism development.
The establishment of this tourism association is a culmination of a series of infrastructure developments, but I believe that Inagi City, as a latecomer in tourism, has finally reached the starting line.
In the future, it is important to have more companies, commerce and industry operators, and citizens participate as members, and to become a tourism association that everyone can enjoy using. Thank you for your cooperation.