JNTO Hosts Visit Japan FIT Fair #18 from 16 to 18 October 2026 at Siam Paragon

The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) Bangkok Office is hosting the largest Japan tourism fair in Thailand under the name Visit Japan FIT Fair #18 from 16 to 18 October 2026 at Paragon Hall, 5th Floor, Siam Paragon Shopping Centre. This event aims to promote tourist attractions in secondary cities across Japan under the concept of loving Japan's secondary cities once you try them, encouraging Thai tourists to make repeat visits continuously. The event brings together 118 organisations from Japan and Thailand across a total of 171 booths to offer a comprehensive range of travel products and services.

Thai Tourist Statistics and Direction for Promoting Secondary Cities

Travel statistics from January to August 2026 indicate that more than 790,500 Thai tourists visited Japan, an increase of 3.4% compared with the same period of the previous year. The opening ceremony was presided over by Mrs Makiko Kubo, Executive Vice President of JNTO, Mr Otaka Masato, Ambassador of Japan to Thailand, and Mr Nakasugi Hajime, Executive Director of the JNTO Bangkok Office. Mrs Makiko Kubo and Mr Nakasugi Hajime emphasised that this event will help convey the charm of Japan to those who have never visited, while inspiring the discovery of new destinations and strengthening the good relations between the 2 countries.

Travel Product Offers and Special Activities at the Event

Exhibitors comprise Japanese local government organisations, railway companies, hotels, tourism establishments, airlines and tour companies in Thailand, offering airline tickets, rail passes, accommodation, attraction admission tickets, car rentals, tour packages, travel insurance and SIM card services, along with exclusive deals available only at the event. Visitors can also consult directly on travel plans with specialists from various prefectures. Furthermore, visitors who purchase 8,000 baht or more at the event can redeem their receipts for a 4-season Fujisan blind-pack keychain, as well as join a special campaign from participating products to redeem a snowflake-patterned cushion and souvenirs from JNTO.

Stage activities begin prior to the opening ceremony with a Nebuta Bayashi performance from Aomori Prefecture and a Sansa Odori dance performance from Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, which are performing arts of the summer festivals in the Tohoku region. On Saturday, 17 October 2026 from 12.00 to 12.45, travel and lifestyle YouTuber Mint will share travel experiences in Hokkaido. On Sunday, 18 October 2026 from 13.30 to 14.00, 2 lead performers from the Takarazuka Revue Star Troupe will perform key scenes for the first time in Thailand, followed by a performance by NuNew Chawarin, an artist from Domundi TV, on the special stage from 14.00 to 15.00, along with the 3rd Japan Travel Expert Quiz competition for a chance to win complimentary return airline tickets to Japan.

This news is of particular interest to independent travellers planning trips to Japan and looking to purchase special-priced travel products directly from operators. At the same time, hotel and hospitality professionals can use this opportunity to study destination marketing approaches for secondary cities and joint promotional offers with international partners. In addition, event organisers can learn from the exhibition space management format that integrates travel service sales with cultural performances to attract visitors throughout the 3 days.