On August 26, the Japan Tourism Association, the Japan Association of Travel Agents, and the Japan National Tourism Organization announced the winners of the 8th Japan Tourism Awards, which recognizes initiatives that have contributed to the development and expansion of tourism. The top prize, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Award, went to Aichi Prefecture's "Aichi Prefecture 'How to Reform Vacations' Project." The Japan Tourism Awards are organized by Tourism EXPO Japan, which is organized by the Japan Tourism Association, the Japan Association of Travel Agents, and the Japan National Tourism Organization. In collaboration with Tourism EXPO Japan, which will be held at Tokyo Big Sight from September 26 to 29, the awards recognize initiatives that contribute to the development and expansion of tourism. This year, there were a total of 119 applications, including 105 in the domestic/inbound tourism category and 14 in the overseas category. There were many applications for sustainability and initiatives that will lead to the maintenance and development of the region through the power of tourism. Aichi Prefecture's "Aichi Prefecture 'Reform of Vacations' Project," which won the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Award, is a pioneering initiative in the tourism industry to address the issue of tourism leveling, and was highly praised for creating the concept of "lecation," working together with the business, labor and education sectors to reform the program, and for the prefecture taking the lead in initiating vacation reform. The Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award went to Navitime Japan's "Japan Travel by NAVITIME" (inbound), a tourist navigation service for foreign visitors to Japan. The Japan Tourism Agency Commissioner's Award went to Echizen City Tourism Association, Tobira Holdings and the Catalan Tourism Board, while the Executive Committee Chairman's Award went to the Saudi Red Sea Authority and the UNTourism Special Award went to Minamisanriku Town Tourism Association and Okinawa Convention and Visitors Bureau.