Welcome Message
The Tourism Agency currently works in cooperation with the government, local government agencies, and private businesses, etc., with the aim of increasing repeater visitors to Japan through increasing the number of travellers here and raising the level of satisfaction of our guests as a result of providing an environment that accommodates foreign tourists all over Japan so that they can move about, stay, and sightsee comfortably and with peace of mind. The Guide-interpreter System was implemented on January 4, 2018, under the revised Guide-interpreter Act, which was promulgated on June 2, 2017. In addition to guide-interpreters becoming a ‘National Guide-interpreters’, the Guide-interpreter System has changed considerably such as regulations monopolizing the business of guide-interpreters being abolished so unqualified guide-interpreters are now also able to undertake paid guide-interpreter work. As a response to this revision to the act, the Tourism Agency decided to establish a group to carry out training on practical duties of guide-interpreters, such as itinerary management and how to respond during emergencies, for all guide-interpreters across Japan.
The need now for training up and coming personnel in the field of interpreters, translators and guides is increasing. This is because increasing the number of tourists who wish to visit Japan and the use of high-quality translations is essential. In addition, there is also a growing need for sharing tourist information across local boundaries. In order to bring this philosophy to life, we believe that it is essential to aim to be an association that has members who support one another and cooperate through communication, improves business for guide-interpreters, interpreters, and translators, and is run in a way that raises the status and position of its members. From this view point, we entered into a group insurance plan for the purpose of reducing the risk faced by our members in terms of business, and at the same time, we are preparing to register to become an authorized Tourism Agency Registered Training Organization. The association also aims to support the development of the international tourism business that is set to increase in the future, as well as to contribute to international goodwill. Following our establishment, due to having a social responsibility as a general incorporated association, we would like to contribute to society through our activities as the Kyushu Association of Interpreters, Translators and Guide-Interpreters in order to form a better society while being connected with, supporting, and helping more groups and individuals than ever before. Thank you very much.
Representative Director of the Kyushu Association of Interpreters, Translators and Guide-Interpreters
Mizuho Mizutani.
