The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan to Japan, Atadurdy Bayramov, held a meeting with Yuji Hara, the newly elected President of the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA). The talks focused on developing bilateral tourism cooperation, establishing direct air links, and expanding direct business ties in the tourism sector.

During the meeting, Ambassador Atadurdy Bayramov congratulated Yuji Hara on his new appointment and wished him success. The parties also discussed ways to further strengthen the partnership between Turkmenistan and Japan in the tourism industry.

Turkmenistan's cooperation with JATA has continued since the JATA Travel Showcase international tourism exhibition held in Tokyo in 2013. One of the events that provided additional momentum to this partnership in recent years was the successful presentation of Turkmenistan's cultural and tourism potential at the EXPO 2025 world exhibition held in Osaka in 2025.

One of the main issues discussed was the possibility of establishing a direct flight between Ashgabat and Tokyo. In addition, the importance of establishing direct cooperative relations between Turkmen and Japanese travel companies was emphasized.

According to the parties, the opening of direct air service could positively impact the growth of tourists arriving in Turkmenistan from Japan. The absence of complex transit flights is considered one of the key conditions for Japanese travelers when choosing a travel destination.

Furthermore, there is a high level of interest in Japan regarding the historical monuments of the Great Silk Road and cultural heritage sites included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This creates broad opportunities for Turkmenistan to further solidify its position in the field of cultural and historical tourism.