Japan Situation

Hello Everyone,

As you are aware, a massive earthquake and tsunami have hit the country of Japan. My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Japan.

I'm sure you are wondering how this will impact our program. The People to People National Headquarters is watching the situation closely. I have listed some questions and answers regarding this situation. I've also attached a map of the areas most affected as well as the area we will be traveling to. (Check your email for this attachment.)

You may also want to bookmark the People to People Health and Safety Blog. It is a great source of information on ways People to People makes safety our number one priority.

As soon as I hear information, I will pass it on to you.

Thank you,

John Paydo
Delegation Leader
Land of the Rising Sun



Will People to People Student Ambassadors traveling to Japan this summer be affected by the recent earthquake and tsunami?

The safety of our delegates is our number one priority. We are closely monitoring the situation in Japan, and at this time we have not altered any of our program itineraries. We will assess the damage to any activity locations. Highlights for each itinerary will remain the same. The Schedule of Activities will be posted at 60days prior to departure and will reflect the final itinerary for each delegation.



Will the earthquake and tsunami in Japan affect my delegation’s itinerary?

The Land of the Rising Sun program does travel to Japan. Currently, it is too early to know the affect of the earthquake and tsunami on any People to People activity locations. We will assess the damage to any activity locations. For every itinerary the highlights will remain the same, while some activity locations may change to accommodate areas damaged by the earthquake and tsunami. The final itinerary for every delegation will be reflected in their Schedule of Activities posted at 60 days prior to departure.



How do you make the decision whether or not to travel to a country?

In making the decision to proceed with any program, our senior leadership team relies on up-to-date intelligence gathered from a number of organizations including the U.S. State Department, the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC), the Federal Aviation Administration, and the National Transportation Safety Board, as well as from international safety and security specialists. We receive multiple updates from these organizations on a daily basis, and will stay very close to this situation until it is no longer a concern. If current conditions were to exist closer to our departure dates that might in any way hinder our ability to provide a safe and rewarding program, we will not hesitate to alter the itinerary, redirect the program to safer regions, or provide other alternatives including cancellation of the program.