BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 5. Turkmenistan and Japan discussed the prospects of launching direct air links and expanding bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector.
This was reflected in a statement published by the Embassy of Turkmenistan in Japan following a meeting in Tokyo between Turkmen Ambassador to Japan Atadurdy Bayramov and Chairman of the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA), Yu Hara.
According to the press release, the sides discussed expanding tourism cooperation.
"Particular attention was paid to the prospects of establishing direct air services between the two countries," the statement said.
The sides reviewed the history of bilateral cooperation, which began with Turkmenistan's participation in the JATA Travel Showcase in 2013, and highlighted joint initiatives including a tourism conference in Tokyo in 2014 and the "Turkmenistan - the Country of Friendship, Brotherhood and Hospitality" forum held during Expo 2025 Osaka.
The meeting also underscored the importance of strengthening direct contacts between tourism authorities and leading travel companies in both countries to encourage mutual travel and professional exchanges in the hospitality industry.
For reference, Japan has become one of Turkmenistan's key partners in Asia, with cooperation traditionally centered on industrial projects implemented by companies such as Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Sojitz, ITOCHU, Mitsubishi Corporation and Toyo Engineering. As this economic partnership has expanded, Ashgabat has increasingly sought to complement it by developing tourism and people-to-people exchanges. Participation in Expo 2025 Osaka has become a major element of that strategy, providing Turkmenistan with an opportunity to promote its tourism potential while encouraging new business and transport links. The latest discussions on direct flights therefore fit into a broader effort to strengthen connectivity between the two countries beyond commercial and industrial cooperation.
