Japan Tourism Association's Tourism Development Program 'D-College' Starts July 10

The Japan Tourism Association (Minato-ku, Tokyo; Chairman: Masanobu Komoda) will launch the 2026 'D-College' program, a training initiative for tourism development, on July 10. 'D-College' consists of two curricula: 'D-Study,' which teaches foundational knowledge and practical skills for tourism destination management (useful for DMOs and tourism associations), and the 'Tourism DX Certification,' which trains and certifies individuals capable of planning and executing regional tourism strategies based on data. As an e-learning program that trains tourism management personnel by level, it allows for on-demand online study anytime, anywhere. In Japan, which faces a declining population, tourism is expected to become a core industry supporting national growth. Meanwhile, there is a demand across the country for talent capable of accurately grasping regional realities, thinking based on data, and practicing sustainable tourism management. To meet these needs, the Japan Tourism Association has been offering the 'D-College' program since last year.