METI Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry of : Starts Open Data Demonstration for the Revitalization of the Service Industry

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) started a demonstration project for creating a database by collecting and integrating data about travel-related information and the behavior of domestic and international tourists and other visitors. This project aims to improve productivity in the service industry and to create new service enterprises and businesses.

1. Purpose

For the revitalization of and productivity improvement in the service industry, which accounts for approximately 70% of the Japanese economy, METI started a demonstration project to collect information held by enterprises, data on the behavior of foreign tourists visiting Japan, and other tourism-related data and to promote the utilization of such data. Specifically, tourism-related data including lodging history data from within Japan and data on the behavior of foreign tourists visiting Japan will be integrated and disclosed as open data.

This project is expected (1) to solve regional issues and revitalize regions, (2) to create opportunities for new services and businesses, and (3) to accelerate data utilization at public organizations including administrative agencies.

In addition, METI will also collaborate with the IoT Acceleration Lab and hold the first IoT Lab Connection (Big Data analysis contest) utilizing the platform in January 2016.

2. Outline of the Tourism Forecast Platform

The Platform visually provides information including information on accommodation reservations, actual lodging data for more than 65.75 million stays across Japan, and guest attributes, using graphs and other means.

Also, this platform attempts to provide tourism forecasts (the degree of congestion at sightseeing spots, the degree of attention to each area from Japan and overseas, forecasts of the trends in the number of lodging guests, etc.), up to six months in advance, based on past results and the status of reservations.

3. Outline of Information Distribution Platform for Foreign Tourists Visiting Japan

The Platform provides information to service entities about stress that foreign tourists visiting Japan feel by analyzing their behavior in Japan, but only when their consent is obtained.

Additionally, METI will also review the Platform's usability for marketing by distributing coupons and information to foreign visitors based on the tourists' location, nationality, and other information.

Reference: Entities participating in the platform project

Tourism Forecast Platform

• JTB Corporate Sales Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, President and Representative Director: Kaoru Minami)
• SOKEN. Inc. (Tokyo Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President: Yasuhito Tsutsui)
• OPEN TONE (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, President: Daisuke Sato)

Information Distribution Platform for Foreign Tourists Visiting Japan

• ROI Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, President: Ryotaro Ejima)
• DENTSU INC. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President and CEO: Tadashi Ishii)
• NAVITIME JAPAN Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, CEO: Keisuke Onishi)
• Blogwatcher Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo, President: Yohei Toda)
• RECRUIT LIFESTYLE CO., LTD. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, President and Representative Director: Ken Asano)

Release date

December 14, 2015

Division in charge

• ervice Industries Office, Service Affairs Policy Division, Commerce and Information Policy Bureau
• Information and Communication Electronics Division, Commerce and Information Policy Bureau