Press Release: 02-30R
September 19, 2002

The Commercial Service of the U.S. Embassy Tokyo is pleased to announce See America Week 2002 - Japan, a series of travel industry trade promotion events to be held September 24 to 27, 2002 at the Westin Hotels in Osaka and Tokyo.

These events will provide an excellent opportunity for members of the Japanese travel industry to meet face-to-face with representatives of over 50 US travel industry suppliers. Visitors will be able to learn about new destinations, services and products offered by the US travel industry. The program is organized by the American Embassy's Commercial Service, the Japan Visit USA Committee and the Travel Industry Association of America.

Tuesday, September 24
Visit USA Travel Fair Osaka                                                             10:00 - 17:00
TIA See America Educational Seminar                                            09:00 - 12:30
Westin Hotel Osaka, 1-1-20 Ohyodonaka, Kita-ku, Osaka

Wednesday, September 25
TIA Media Marketplace Workshop                                                     15:00 - 18:00
Westin Hotel Tokyo, 1-4-1 Mita, Meguro-ku, Tokyo

Thursday, September 26
TIA See America Educational Seminar                                               09:45 - 17:30
Westin Hotel Tokyo

Friday, September 27
Visit USA Travel Fair                                                                             10:00 - 17:00
Westin Hotel Tokyo

These events are being organized and promoted as part of the U.S.-Japan Tourism Export Promotion Initiative under the Memorandum of Understanding, signed by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Donald Evans and Japan's Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Chikage Oogi in Tokyo in April 2002. The Initiative established an industry-led and government-supported Export Expansion council to undertake cooperative efforts in a number of areas to help expand tourism to exceed pre-September 11 levels within five years.

Fifty members of the U.S. travel industry will participate in the program, including airlines, destination tourist offices, hotels, rental car companies, cruise lines, theme parks, tour operators, shopping centers and others.

For more information, please visit our event website at www.buyusa.gov/japan/ja/page27.html (web- site in Japanese) or contact Ms. Junko Namba at the U.S. Embassy for the Tokyo event (Tel: 03-3224-5038, Fax: 03-3224-5320) and Ms. Chikako Akai at the U.S. Consulate-General, Osaka-Kobe for the Osaka event (Tel: 06-6315-5960, Fax: 06-6315-5963).

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