JITTI USA was established by the Japan Transport and Tourism Institute (JTTRI), an independent, non-profit organization in Japan, which was founded through initiatives of the Japanese Ministry of Transport, academic institutions, and business organizations in 1968.  While keeping close relations with the Japanese government, academic community, and transportation industry, JTTRI has been conducting research and surveys on contemporary issues of the time, thus supporting the government and transport/tourism industries throughout its 50 years of operation.