JAL MaaS unveils demonstration app for travelers in Japan

Published on March 1, 2024

Japan Airlines (JAL) is committed to enhancing the travel experience for passengers, ensuring a seamless journey from start to finish. Through partnerships with various transportation networks and regions, JAL strives to elevate convenience for air travelers. Teaming up with NRI Digital, Inc. (based in Yokohama, Kanagawa; led by President & CEO Masakazu Amemiya; referred to as “NRI Digital” hereafter) and Myoko Tourism Management (based in Myoko, Niigata; led by Representative Yoshio Hikiba), JAL will showcase the implementation of an app-based information aggregation service tailored for foreign visitors exploring Myoko City, Niigata Prefecture.

This initiative addresses common challenges encountered by foreign travelers in Japan, such as language barriers and access to tourist information. By preregistering their travel dates and locations, users can receive timely and relevant travel guidance with multilingual support. Furthermore, leveraging location data will aid in future visitor attraction efforts.

Key aspects of the service include:

1. Launching a demonstration in Myoko City, Niigata Prefecture, via the “JAL MaaS” app, offering tailored information on public transportation and tourist attractions based on visitors’ itineraries and locations.
2. Implementing a user-friendly web-accessible app for easy adoption during short-term stays.
3. Initially focusing on Australian visitors, who represent approximately 80% of foreign visitors to Myoko City.

Moreover, the service’s accessibility is enhanced through Progressive Web App (PWA) features, enabling users to access content via web browsers without app store downloads. Myoko, Niigata, has been actively embracing digitalization, including the integration of accommodation data and IC card systems at ski resorts, to enrich the tourist experience. This demonstration will further streamline travel within the region.

Capitalizing on JAL’s unique pre-arrival customer engagement, the airline aims to expand the service based on this trial run, thereby enriching the travel experience for foreign visitors.