A comparative study on transitions in numbers and characteristics of visitors to hot springs

Abstract

This study used “Mobile Kukan Toukei™” (mobile spatial statistics) provided by NTT DOCOMO, Inc. and DOCOMO Insight Marketing, Inc. to collect the location data of mobile phone users in order to count the number of visitors at specific tourist destinations and examine their characteristics. Mobile Kukan Toukei™ is statistical population data created by a mobile phone network. It is possible to estimate the population structure of a region by gender, age, and residence using this service of the company. First, I examined the data of the two hot springs, Wakura and Yamanaka. Then I compared the results of them. The opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen brought more visitors to many areas in the prefecture. However, it also led to fewer visitors in some areas. Regarding Yamanaka hot springs, there was no significant difference in visits between different periods. Some visitors might have spent more than one night in Yamanaka hot springs. Although both Wakura and Yamanaka hot springs are a little far from Kanazawa, their results were contrary. A TV drama might have increased the number of tourists in Wakura.