No.80 Inauguration of Inagi City Tourism Association

The founding general meeting was held on May 31, 2018, and the corporate registration was completed the next day, June 1, 2018, and the Inagi City Tourism Association was launched.
Regarding tourism in the city, it is one of the important measures that I have committed to since I took office as mayor.
The main things we have implemented over the past seven years are organizational reforms, the establishment of a tourism department, the establishment of fixed-term staff employment regulations, the appointment of a person with private sector experience as the tourism manager, the creation of tourist maps, the holding of sightseeing walking tours, Construction of an antenna shop "Inagi Transmission Base Pair Terrace" to introduce the city, outsourcing management of the facility to the private sector rather than having it run directly by City Hall, formulation of the Inagi City Tourism Basic Plan, installation of Inagi Free Wi-Fi, multilingual city homepage. These include attracting hotels, expanding friendship cities, and holding exchange events.
The next step was to establish a tourism association.
In 2017, we launched the ``Inagi City Tourism Association Establishment Review Council,'' which investigated precedents in other cities and discussed the organization and functions of tourism associations, as well as the schedule for establishment. In February 2030, we received a summary report.
In FY2018, we will increase the number of members of this council and launch the ``Inagi City Tourism Association Establishment Preparation Committee,'' which will consider drafting the articles of incorporation, administrative details, securing members, and entrusting the designated management of Pair Terrace. This led to the founding general meeting.
The Tourism Association says, ``By utilizing local resources such as Inagi City's nature, scenery, culture, history, and agricultural and livestock products, and promoting tourism, we will increase the attractiveness of the city and disseminate this widely both domestically and internationally. The aim is to increase the number of people interacting with Inagi City by encouraging people to come to Inagi City, thereby 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 although we plan to receive assistance from the city, it is a private corporation. Officers include those recommended by organizations such as chambers of commerce, agricultural cooperatives, art and culture groups, citizen activity support centers, junior chambers, as well as Yomiuri Land, JR East, Keio Electric Railway, hotel operators, Tokyo Verdy, etc. Companies are participating, and I am also an advisor.
Professor Takashi Samejima, an associate professor in the College of Comprehensive Human Sciences and College of Tourism and Culture, which opened at Komazawa Women's University in April of this year, has been appointed as the chairman. Mr. 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 teaching, he had experience working as a producer of themed travel projects such as eco tours at HIS Co., Ltd., and is a talented person who is expected to continue working in the future.
In addition, based on these connections, Komazawa Women's University, Inagi City Tourism Association, and Inagi City concluded the "Inagi City Tourism and Town Development Industry-Government-Academia Collaboration Agreement" on June 8, 2018. We hope that the unity of the three parties will further promote tourism.
Although the establishment of the tourism association is the culmination of a series of infrastructure improvements, I believe that Inagi City, a latecomer to tourism, has finally reached the starting line.
In the future, we would like to have more companies, commercial and industrial operators, and citizens join us as members, and it is important that we become a tourism association that everyone can enjoy using, so we look forward to your continued support.