The Shiga Prefecture Travel Industry Association (Chairman: Hiroshi Kitagawa, Tabisuke) held its 2024 general meeting on May 23rd at the Kusatsu Estopia Hotel in Kusatsu City, Shiga Prefecture. In the management promotion project for this year, the association will work with the government, transportation, accommodation, and tourism associations to promote destination-based travel in order to revitalize domestic tourism and contribute to regional development. As for the Osaka-Kansai Expo, the association will work as a joint venture (JV) to undertake the contracted work related to the free invitation of 180,000 people from 4 years old to high school students in the prefecture. As a JV, the association will also work to strengthen cooperation with JTB for the SHIGA Shining National Sports and Para-Sports Tournament. Chairman Kitagawa said, "If the world has changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we in the travel industry must change as well. Eight member companies withdrew from the association last year. We would like to ask for the wisdom of all members in order to survive individually," and proposed holding a roundtable discussion in July where members can gather and honestly discuss the future of the travel industry...