Former Secretary-General Nikai, President of the Japan Association of Travel Agents, will not run in the next election|The appointment of association officers will be decided at the June board meeting
On March 25, 2024, former secretary-general of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Nikai, 85, who has served as president of the Japan Association of Travel Agents (ANTA) for more than 30 years, announced that he would not run for the next House of Representatives election, taking responsibility for the political funding party issue. (Pictured: Former Secretary General Nikai inspects a travel event)
Mr. Nikai, who became a member of the House of Representatives in 1983, served as the president of the National Association of Travel Agents for more than 30 years from 1990 to the present, and from 1999 to 2000 he became the Minister of Transport (currently the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism).
Recently, the "Go To Campaign," a travel support project during the new coronavirus pandemic in 2020, was implemented under the strong guidance of Mr. Nikai, who was the secretary-general.
On the morning of the 26th, when asked by the Japan Association of Travel Agents about the impact of former Secretary-General Nikai's non-candidacy in the next election to the position of president of the association, he said, "We are not aware of it at the moment, but the position of chairman does not have to be a member of the council, and the appointment of officers of the association will be decided at the board meeting in June."
In terms of promoting national tourism policy, former Secretary-General Nikai has a close relationship with former Prime Minister Suga. At the reception of Tourism EXPO Japan, a travel festival organized by the Japan Tourism Organization in Osaka in the fall of 2023, former Secretary-General Nikai and former Prime Minister Suga took the stage. In addition, former Prime Minister Suga has participated in travel festivals since his days as Chief Cabinet Secretary.
Former Secretary General Nikai's failure to run in the next election will attract attention not only for future political trends, but also for its impact on the tourism industry.
