The Japanese travel industry has yet to decide whether it will print information about the dangers of certain destinations on travel brochures, the chairman of the Japan Association of Travel Agents said Friday.
"We're concerned about safety, but we have to find the right balance between protecting the consumer" and promoting overseas travel, Isao Matsuhashi said at a news conference following the 11th annual Japan Congress of International Travel and Travel Trade Show. "The industry needs to consider this more before coming to a final conclusion."
More than 1,500 people from over 70 nations attended the JATA-sponsored event, the largest gathering in the Japanese travel industry. The conference, which focused on the overseas travel market, was held this week at the New Takanawa Prince Hotel in Tokyo.
When asked how the conference addressed the issue of travel safety in the wake of last week's terrorist attack on tourists in Luxor, Egypt, Matsuhashi cited the opening address he delivered to the congress Tuesday. In mentioning the attack, in which 10 Japanese were killed, Matsuhashi said "It is a stark reminder that terrorism by no means is to be tolerated, and that safety and security are of the utmost importance in our industry."
In the news conference, Matsuhashi told reporters that he felt the comments in his address expressed the general sentiment of all those attending the travel conference. "Without peace, our industry will not be able to survive," he added.