The Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA, 1,143 members) held its 2024 Annual General Meeting on June 19th at the Keidanren Kaikan in Marunouchi, Tokyo. In his opening remarks, Chairman Hiroyuki Takahashi (Chairman of JTB) apologized, saying, "Since COVID-19, several scandals have occurred, including fraudulent claims in employment adjustment subsidies and COVID-related contracted projects from the national and local governments, and recently, member travel agencies have received exclusion orders from the Fair Trade Commission, significantly damaging the trust of the travel industry. I apologize for the concern and inconvenience this has caused our members." He then called for a change in management awareness, saying, "We have established a committee of experts to implement measures to prevent recurrence. What I want to convey to top management is that compliance takes priority over all business operations. I would like the top management to take the lead in eradicating fraudulent cases." At last year's general meeting, Chairman Takahashi also expressed his determination to restore trust by thoroughly enforcing compliance, and over the past year has been working to identify fraudulent cases by conducting surveys of members, etc. However, on May 30th of this year, five major travel agencies, including JTB, received an order from the Fair Trade Commission under the Antimonopoly Act for collusion in the transportation of COVID-19 patients ordered by Aomori City. Guest of honor, Commissioner General of the Japan Tourism Agency, Takahashi Ichiro (retired on July 1st), expressed his gratitude for the support of the Noto Peninsula earthquake victims and the Hokuriku Support Discount, but said, "It is regrettable that a series of irregularities, such as fraudulent receipt of benefits and collusion, have been discovered one after another, and I would like the Association to take the lead in steadily implementing measures to prevent recurrence so that it will never happen again. At the same time, we call for thorough compliance to restore trust, and the Japan Tourism Agency will also supervise the prevention of recurrence." At the general meeting, the business report and financial statements for fiscal year 2011 were approved, and the business plan and budget for fiscal year 2012, which had already been approved by the board of directors, were confirmed. In the election of officers due to the expiration of their terms, Chairman Takahashi, as well as all vice-chairmen, presidents, and secretaries-general, were reappointed. Among these, compliance-related efforts will be tackled by both member companies and JATA, and JATA will continue to implement the following, including the ones it has already implemented: 1) reviewing branch organization, 2) establishing a compliance promotion office and a reporting desk, 3) establishing disciplinary regulations, 4) training for contracted businesses and managers, and 5) follow-up by expert committee members. Members will also be asked to report on the status of their efforts multiple times. In addition, as part of efforts to revitalize overseas, domestic and international travel, and especially as an activity aimed at reviving overseas travel, this year marks the 60th anniversary of the liberalization of overseas travel and the Japan-US Tourism Exchange Year, and these will be publicized and promoted. The "Tourism EXPO Japan 2024" to be held at Tokyo Big Sight in Ariake, Tokyo from September 26th to 29th will be held under the theme of "A travel festival where you can encounter the future" as an event to build momentum for the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo.