Nippon Travel Agency (NTA), founded in 1905, by Shinsuke Minami, holds the distinguished title of being Japan’s oldest travel agency. With over a century of expertise, NTA has consistently dedicated itself to crafting exceptional travel experiences.
The West Japan Railway Company (JR West), serving as the parent company of NTA, fortifies NTA’s capabilities, empowering them to develop diverse travel products across Japan. With a network of over 150 branch offices spread throughout the country, NTA utilizes this extensive reach to gather information and trends from all over Japan. This widespread presence enables them to offer their services and travel experiences to customers anywhere within the nation.
Sustainability Commitment
The NTA Group has expanded beyond the travel sector into various industries, including business and education. In line with their vision for sustainable business practices, the NTA Group is dedicated to contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with the goal of ‘Sustainable Business for the Future’, focusing on “people,” “scenery,” and “culture.”
NTA is committed to:
- Fostering healthy, equitable, prosperous, and vibrant lifestyles.
- Safeguarding nature and its stunning landscapes.
- Promoting the appreciation of diverse cultures and contributing to the establishment of a peaceful and fair society.
See here the report of NTA’s x SDG Tourism for Tomorrow.
Nippon Travel Agency receiving GSTC Membership acknowledgement. From left to right Ayako Yamamoto, Public & Regional Service Division General Manager of NTA and Roi Ariel, GSTC General Manager.
“With this membership, we pursue to develop sustainable tourism and accelerate our efforts further together with our valued partners, such as destinations and the tourism businesses,” said Ayako Yamamoto, Public & Regional Service Division General Manager of Nippon Travel Agency.
GSTC Welcomes Nippon Travel Agency
“We are pleased that Nippon Travel Agency has joined our global network as a GSTC Member and are committed to promoting sustainable tourism practices. We look forward to working with them, jointly steering towards this vital and shared goal,” said Randy Durband, CEO of GSTC.
About Nippon Travel Agency
Nippon Travel Agency was founded in 1905 and was the first agency to start travel operations in Japan. Today, it has 3,632 staff members (the whole NTA group) with over 200 branch offices both in Japan and overseas, providing travel services of the highest standard. With over 100 years of history, NTA is recognized as the leading travel agency to offer a wide range of services for their valued clients.
The Inbound Travel Department was established in 1961 as an inbound department. In these years, its services keep expanding and evolving, to provide the best for their customers.
More information: https://www.ntainbound.com/about-us/
To read the Press Release in Japanese, please click here.
About the GSTC
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council® (GSTC®) establishes and manages global sustainable standards, known as the GSTC Criteria. There are two sets: Destination Criteria for public policy-makers and destination managers, and Industry Criteria for hotels and tour operators. They are arranged in four pillars: (A) Sustainable management; (B) Socioeconomic impacts; (C) Cultural impacts; and (D) Environmental impacts (including consumption of resources, reducing pollution, and conserving biodiversity and landscapes). Since tourism destinations each have their own culture, environment, customs, and laws, the Criteria are designed to be adapted to local conditions and supplemented by additional criteria for the specific location and activity.
The GSTC Criteria form the foundation for GSTC’s assurance role for Certification Bodies that certify hotels/accommodations, tour operators, and destinations as having sustainable policies and practices in place. GSTC does not directly certify any products or services, but provides accreditation to those that do. The GSTC is an independent and neutral USA-registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization that represents a diverse and global membership, including national and provincial governments, leading travel companies, hotels, tour operators, NGOs, individuals and communities – all striving to achieve best practices in sustainable tourism.
Information for media and the press: https://staging.gstcouncil.org/about/for-the-press/
Statements expressed in this announcement are presented for informational purposes only and should not be taken as an endorsement or recommendation by GSTC, unless clearly stated.
