The four-day training program was conducted from July 21 to 24, 2026, in Tokyo and Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, targeting NTO officials, provincial government representatives from AMS, and an official from the ASEAN Secretariat.
In the first phase (Tokyo), participants attended lectures by expert and UN Tourism Regional Support Office for Asia and the Pacific on the concepts of tourism resilience and risk assessment. They engaged in group discussions on crisis response and preparedness, and learned from Okinawa Prefecture’s tourism crisis management practices. Participants also attended the Tourism Resilience Working-level Meeting hosted by the Japan Tourism Agency (JTA) to exchange insights.
In the second phase (Sendai Field Study), participants conducted technical visits to examine disaster preparedness and local resilience initiatives. The itinerary in Sendai included a lecture and facility tour on municipal tourism crisis management at Aquaignis Sendai, an inspection of the Sendai Nagamachi Future Co-creation Center (a disaster-resilient shelter facility for stranded individuals), a study on disaster preparedness and BCP at Sendai International Airport, and a visit to the Arahama Elementary School earthquake memorial site.
Outcomes / Takeaway
The workshop significantly enhanced participants’ understanding of tourism resilience and provided actionable insights for developing disaster response protocols in their respective countries.
Through the field visits in Sendai, participants gained firsthand knowledge of integrating physical infrastructure with community-based disaster management, including shelter operations and airport BCPs. The interactive sessions and participation in the JTA working-level meeting fostered peer-learning and strengthened regional networking between ASEAN and Japan.
Participants expressed strong commitment to applying the knowledge gained to accelerate their national tourism resilience strategies, contributing directly to the smooth implementation of the ASEAN Tourism Sectoral Plan 2026-2030.
Participant’s Testimonial
“Inspecting Sendai’s disaster-resilient facilities and learning from Japan’s crisis management protocols was extremely valuable. This experience will greatly assist us in formulating robust action plans for tourism resilience in our home country.”
Event Overview
Date: 21-24 July 2026
Venue: Tokyo and Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan
Participants: NTO officials and provincial government officials from nine ASEAN Member States, official from the ASEAN Secretariat
Activity Partners / Experts: Japan Tourism Agency (JTA), UN Tourism Regional Support Office for Asia and the Pacific, Mr. Masato Takamatsu (Tourism Resilience Japan), Okinawa Prefecture, Sendai Municipal Office etc.
