Joined The “SDGs for Regional Revitalization Public-Private Partnership Platform”
Table of Contents
1: Joined The “SDGs for Regional Revitalization Public-Private Partnership Platform”
2: “Improving Convenience” is Essential to Attracting Tourists to Rural Areas
3: Accessibility Rate of railroad stations is not progressing in rural areas
1: Joined The “SDGs for Regional Revitalization Public-Private Partnership Platform”
On September 15, 2023, our company joined the “SDGs for Regional Revitalization Public-Private Partnership Platform” run by the Japanese Cabinet Office. This is because we have determined that our sharing services, NINJA KOTAN (clothing rental and pre-travel concierge service), can contribute to attracting inbound tourists to rural areas. Attracting tourists to rural areas is necessary to remove the “inconvenience.” By improving convenience through “Complete Luggage-Free Travel” from departure to return of the trip, NINJA KOTAN will contribute to revitalizing local economies and maintaining local public transportation systems by attracting tourists to rural areas.
2: “Improving Convenience” is Essential to Attracting Tourists to Rural Areas
According to the Japan Tourism Agency’s Lodging Travel Statistics Survey, in the first half of 2023 (January-June), 73% of total overnight stays by inbound visitors were concentrated in five prefectures (Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Hokkaido, and Okinawa), the highest concentration since 2007.
Share of Foreign Visitors’ Overnight Stays in the Top 5 Prefectures as a Percentage of the Total
Note: Data for 2023 is for the January-June
Source: “Lodging Travel Statistics Survey” by Japan Tourism Agency
According to the Japan Tourism Agency’s 2019 survey on ‘Improving the Reception Environment for Foreign Visitors to Japan,’ inbound travelers who visited both urban and rural areas found “public transportation” convenient in urban areas, with 86% of respondents indicating so. However, in rural areas, only 8% considered it convenient. Similarly, for “multilingual signage,” 87% of respondents in urban areas found it helpful, while the figure dropped to 52% in rural areas.
Inbound Travelers Who Visited Both Urban and Rural Areas Found “Convenient”
Source: “2019 survey on ‘Improving the Reception Environment for Foreign Visitors to Japan” by Japan Tourism Agency
3: Accessibility Rate of railroad stations is not progressing in rural areas
Another problem is the lack of progress in the accessibility of railroad stations in rural areas. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s “Status of the Accessibility Rail Stations by Prefecture at the End of FY2021,” 33 prefectures (70% of all prefectures) have an accessibility rate of less than 50%. This is a hardship for travelers carrying large luggage. In fact, the correlation between the accessibility rate and the occupancy rate of lodging facilities (Lodging Travel Statistics Survey) is as high as 72%. “Complete Luggage-Free Travel” that does not bother with steps is necessary. Subsequently, it is essential to improve the financial situation and invest in accessibility.
Accessibility at stations and occupancy rate of accommodation
Note: Data for 46 prefectures, excluding Okinawa Prefecture, which has no railroad network
Source: Japan Tourism Agency, “Lodging Travel Statistics Survey 2019,” Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, “Status of the Accessibility Rail Stations by Prefecture at the End of FY2021”
As a result of our participation in this “platform,” we intend to promote the attraction of tourists to various local regions through our “Complete Luggage-Free Travel” service. We have already submitted proposals for attracting tourists to two local governments through this “platform.” We plan to continue making various proposals in the future.