Japan National Tourism Organization

Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) launched a new program in October called “Okinawa2Go!”. This is a program for giving help and guides to tourists. In this program, it includes 24-hour hotline with different languages. Tourists can ask for help when they have problems during the travel in Okinawa. There is also an iPhone apps – “Okinawa2Go!” provided. Tourists can download this application and use it as a virtual guide. They can search for all tourism information like sightseeing and transportation. They also can share their travel experience in Okinawa immediately. However, this brilliant iPhone application can only be used by tourists with iPhone . Therefore, starting from November, JNTO provides iPhone with the apps – “Okinawa2Go!” for tourists. Tourists can borrow the iPhone for free at the airport or the Tisco Japan counter. Using this iPhone, tourists also have free internet access and can call the 24-hour hotlines.

This new program is a combination with latest technologies. This is also what other DMOs do now. From the JNTO website, there are not much tools related to information technology provided for tourists. They have videos and pictures but no podcast and RSS. So information technology tools actually are new to JNTO. This iPhone apps is a new trial for them I think this is a good start as people from all over the world are now paying more attention to latest technologies and no one do not know what iPhone is. Therefore, using iPhone apps is a very good start and it can definitely draw tourists’ attention. From my point of view, JNTO should develop more IT tools in order to attract more tourists to come and visit. Nowadays, people want everything to be convenient and fast and IT can solve all the problems and provides what they want. Also, all DMOs are trying to create or develop the latest information technology tools for tourists. If JNTO is still providing the traditional tools for tourists, many tourists will not visit Japan anymore. It is because other destinations can provide more help and convenience to them. Therefore, information technology is really important in tourism industry and it cannot be neglected. JNTO needs to try hard in order to always be the top destinations in tourists' mind.