Posted on 10/16/2013 1:41:45 AM PDT by TexGrill
The Yomiuri ShimbunThe Japan Tourism Agency is keen to fulfill its mission of making Japan a popular destination by using so-called big data, the collection of massive amounts of digital data.
To help develop new tourism spots and routes, the agency plans to collect big data from travelers via the Global Positioning System and their mobile phones or other devices. A working group of experts, soon to be formed, is expected to establish a method by the end of March to analyze the data. The agency plans to collect big datavarious information such as messages posted on social media sitesfrom about 700,000 tourists in eight areas across the nation.
Aiming to make Japan more attractive to foreign tourists, the government has set a goal of boosting the number of overseas visitors to 30 million by 2030. The agency intends to expand the areas for its big data survey in the near future.
The areas currently subject to the survey include Mt. Fuji and its environs; Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture; Furano, Hokkaido; and all of Fukushima Prefecture. They are viewed as areas that could attract more tourists if multiple municipalities were to work together. The agency plans to analyze tourist datacollected this year at Mt. Fuji and in Fukushima Prefecture and taken last year in other six areas. The data will be provided by mobile phone companies.
(Excerpt) Read more at the-japan-news.com ...

Go monthly!!
“and all of Fukushima Prefecture”
To glowing reviews, I might add.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.