Is the improvement of secondary transportation convenience an absolute condition for attracting tourists?

A research article authored by CTR Researcher, Prof. Yoshiyuki Katsuki (Graduate School of Tourism), has been published in the journal “Northeast Asia Tourism Research”.

 

Title

Is the improvement of secondary transportation convenience an absolute condition for attracting tourists?

 

Author

Yoshiyuki Katsuki, Graduate School of Tourism, National university Corporation Wakayama University

 

Source

Northeast Asia Tourism Research, Vol. 21 No.1, pp. 156-176

Tourism Institute of Northeast Asia

https://doi.org/10.35173/natr.21.1.08

 

Abstract

This research aims to examine the necessity of secondary transportation in attracting tourists and to demonstrate that its improvement is not a necessary condition for destination selection. Using two regions in the Kinki area (Ine Town, Kyoto Prefecture, and Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture) as case studies, this study analyzes the relationship between the convenience of secondary transportation and the number of tourists. Both regions are located at approximately the same distance from the Keihanshin metropolitan area, allowing for a comparative analysis based on the assumption that they target the same market. The findings reveal that the improvement of secondary transportation is not a decisive factor in destination selection. Instead, the unique attractiveness of the destination itself is the primary factor in drawing tourists. Furthermore, the presence of secondary transportation used by local residents suggests that tourists may still visit, even if its convenience is limited. This research contributes to the development of tourism strategies that emphasize enhancing the intrinsic appeal of tourist destinations.

 

Keywords

Tourist attraction, Secondary transportation, Convenience, Tourism resources