A Sightseeing Planning Support System with Gamification

In recent years, as there has been a major change in the necessity and importance of sightseeing information, a platform to provide real-time sightseeing information according to the ever-changing circumstances is necessary. Additionally, it is effective to adopt gamification to increase users’ motivation to continuously utilize the system in order to provide them with more information. In the present study, in order to support users’ enjoyment in creating efficient and pleasant sightseeing plans, the system that incorporates gamification to increase motivation was developed combining with web-geographic information systems (Web-GIS) and sightseeing planning and sharing system. The system was operated over a period of 2 weeks in Chofu City, Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. Based on the results of a questionnaire survey for 51 users, though the operability of the 3 main functions incorporated with motivation by gamification was rated lower than those of the 2 basic functions, their usefulness was highly rated. Based on the results of the access log analysis, it was effective to design the system so that the same functions can be used regardless of the type of information terminal. Additionally, it was evident that the continuous utilization of the system could increase the number of sightseeing plans created by the users.

A Support System of Sightseeing Tour Planning Using Public Transportation in Japanese Rural Areas

Though most of tourists tend to visit multiple sightseeing spots during their sightseeing tours,it is difficult for them to efficiently acquire information necessary for their sightseeing tour planning.Additionally,in rural area,many people hope to use public transportation which has not developed as much as in urban areas.The present study aims to design and develop a support system of sightseeing tour planning in Japanese rural areas,adopting the information related to real timetables of public transportation on both the sea and the ground,and genetic algorism(GA).The system was developed integrating moving route recommendation system,web-geographic information systems(Web-GIS),and augmented reality(AR)application.Furthermore,Kagawa Prefecture in the western part was selected as the operation target area.The operation of the system was conducted for two months,targeting those inside and outside the operation target area,and web questionnaire surveys were conducted.From the evaluation results based on the web questionnaire surveys,the usefulness of all the original functions as well as of the entire system was analyzed.Additionally,though some users could not easily use the system,it is expected that they will get used to utilizing it by their continuous use.

Food Tourism Planning Support System within Urban Sightseeing Areas in Japan

The present study aimed to design, develop, operate and evaluate a tourism planning support system that can be used to decide on places to eat lunch and dinner, sightseeing spots to visit along the way, and routes for visiting these destinations. This system was developed by integrating a web geographic information system (Web-GIS) and a sightseeing plan creation system (an eatery search system and a sightseeing route creation system). Additionally, the system was operated for one month in Central Yokohama City of Kanagawa Prefecture in Japan, and the total number of users was 79. Based on the results of the web questionnaire survey, user evaluations were particularly high for the function of sightseeing spot selection and the function of display of sightseeing plan information, and also for the entire system. From the results of the access analysis of users’ log data, the total number of sessions in the system was 263, 67% used mobile devices, and smartphones were used most frequently. Therefore, it is evident that the system was used by different types of devices just as it was designed for, and that the system was used according to the purpose of the present study, which is to support the food tourism planning of users.