Masato Takamatsu

Masato Takamatsu is a founding member of the company. He continues to play his role as lead consultant in destination marketing, strategic planning, tourism crisis management and hospitality operation.

He is actively involved in activities of international organizations including WTTC, WEF, UNWTO, UNISDR, PATA and WTCF. As a renowned speaker and lecturer in travel and tourism, Masato has been invited to speak in a number of conferences and seminars both in Japan and overseas.

He is one of a few experts in tourism crisis management. He offers consulting service to destinations impacted by disasters and helps them develop crisis response plan and recovery plan for the affected tourism sector.
Masato Takamatsu joined JTB in 1982, following his graduation　from University of Tokyo. His work experience at JTB includes group tour sales, sales promotion, incentive travel, HR, corporate planning, and IT. He was engaged in the launch of Japan Tourism Marketing Co., and served as Vice President, Marketing. He was appointed as CEO in 2009.

East Japan Great Earthquake and Tsunami triggered him to step into the field of tourism crisis management. He is a leading expert in disaster and crisis management for travel and tourism sector. He was deeply involved in developing the ‘Okinawa Tourism Crisis Management Plan’ which is the first official plan of this kind in Japan. He also participated in drafting PATA’s recommendation to Nepal after the country experienced major earthquakes in 2015.

As a senior lecturer of Ryokan Management Academy, he teaches marketing and management to young executives of ryokan (Japanese style inn) .

As a member of ‘UNWTO panel of tourism expert’ and WTTC Advisors Circle, WTCF Expert Committee member, an international advisor for Atout France, his activities cross borders.