Chairman's Greeting
Today, a critical state of affairs all across the globe persists in fueling international instability and uncertainty, including attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel, the endless Russia-Ukraine war, the systemic and continuous confrontation between the United States and China, and so on.
In this context, multi-layered partnerships among nations sharing fundamental values―freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law―have become increasingly important, as the harsh realities of this chaotic world are brought to light.
Our institute has been working to conduct the latest research on transport and tourism and to strengthen cooperation with other countries around the world, covering a wide range of regions from North America to Southeast and South Asia. This work is carried out in collaboration with our overseas offices: the Japan International Transport and Tourism Institute, USA (JITTI USA) in Washington, D.C. and the ASEAN-India Regional Office (AIRO) in Bangkok, Thailand.
In recent years, India in particular―with its remarkable economic growth and increasingly prominent role in the international community―has become a vital partner in the elds of transport and tourism. As the importance of our collaboration continues to grow, we are establishing an office in India. Furthermore, given that Europe has developed advanced and mature policies and initiatives in the elds of transport and tourism, and holds strong influence on the international community―particularly in the formulation of international standards―we will also establish an office in Europe.
Our institute will investigate and analyze the latest information and trends in transport and tourism from multiple perspectives. We will work to promote the sustainable development of transport and tourism in Japan and other countries, and to strengthen our collaborative partnerships, through sharing accumulated knowledge, insights and experience, providing information, and conducting awareness-raising activities.
Meanwhile, within Japan, we now face a critical situation that demands immediate action. Against the backdrop of a changing socio-economic structure marked by simultaneous population decline and aging, the increasing frequency and severity of large-scale natural disasters, and rapidly changing international circumstances and growing geopolitical risks, several initiatives have become urgent priorities: business restructuring in the transport and tourism industries, advancing digital transformation (DX) and harnessing AI, accelerating decarbonization (GX), strengthening supply chain resilience in shipbuilding, shipping and other sectors, enhancing economic security, and promoting multi-layered people-to-people exchanges.
These initiatives must be pursued with rm and unwavering conviction, adopting mid- to long-term perspectives and leveraging international expertise and insights, while closely monitoring global trends, including European policies.
Based on such recognition, our institute has formulated a medium-term strategy, with the current fiscal year serving as its first year. We aim to deliver results that truly serve society and work in practice by further deepening our interactions and partnerships with all stakeholders. To this end, we will continue to promote research and studies, symposia and seminars, consulting, and other activities.
Finally, we would like to express our deep appreciation to the Nippon Foundation for its generous support and commitment to our institute's activities. We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to all those who have been cooperating with our work, including our supporting members.
SHUKURI Masafumi
Chairman, Japan Transport and Tourism Research Institute (JTTRI)
April 2026