The first biennial JATA Tourism Congress & Travel fair was held in 1977, 13 years after the 1964 liberalization of overseas travel in Japan, just as the overseas travel industry was starting to take off when the number of Japanese overseas travelers stood at 3.15 million. In 2003, the Congress and Fair became an annual event.

In 2011, the JATA Tourism Forum & Travel Showcase will be even more dynamic, leading the travel & tourism industry of Japan and the world, boosting the entire travel market, and creating new demand for travel based on a solid track record.