Role and Contribution of Stakeholders in Japan

This article discusses the role and contribution of stakeholders in the tourism industry in Japan, including hotels, restaurants, transport providers, and local businesses. It also explores their contribution to sustainability at the destination level.

ROLE AND CONTRIBUTION OF STAKEHOLDERS IN JAPAN
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Introduction
In order to provide appropriate products and services to heart surgeons in Japan, there will be a
group of stakeholders involved (Xu, Lü, Chen and Liu, 2009, pg.30-36). A varied group of
stakeholders is included to cater to guests comfort and ensure the event is conducted without any
problems. This discussion includes a brief overview of the stakeholders and their role or
contribution made in the delivery of the final product. The stakeholder’s contribution in creating
sustainability of the event is also discussed.
Analysis
Japan offers a rich cultural diversity and a place of learning. A tourism event for tourists will
need to be held at the city and other places, where there they will need to be hosted at a particular
hotel, lodge or similar homestay facility. There will need for dining places, transport, attractions,
conference facility and so on (Beritelli and Laesser, 2011, pg. 1299-1309). The range of
stakeholders which will be required for the purpose of the event includes a hotel facility, for this
purpose Ana Intercontinental Tokyo. The restaurant will be the 12 different multi-cuisine
restaurants available at the hotel along with other eateries where tourists will travel to. Transport
facility apart from the airline will include Go Tokyo, which is a tour planner offering various
customized tours in Tokyo. Another stakeholder involved for coordinating amongst the doctors
in Japan includes the American Heart Association, that plans a tour for Business Tourists. Other
stakeholders include local businesses, attractions, and JNTO. Figure 1 below depicts a rough
overview of the various stakeholders who are involved in the tourism sector.
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Figure 1: Tourism Stakeholders
Source: Gutierrez et al., 2005
Analyzing the stakeholder group for the provision and support of the selected event, their exact
role and contribution towards developing and delivery of the product and enhancing
sustainability at the destinations levels are as below;
 Involved stakeholders at destination level for the provision and support
The stakeholders of a tourism business involve public and private sector stakeholders, who fulfill
various roles. National, regional and provincial government of Tokyo, Japan is engaged in
determining regulations and various provisions for destination management (Tkaczynski,
Rundle-Thiele and Beaumont, 2009, pg. 169-175). The JNTO (Japan National Tourism
Organization) will act as a stakeholder, who devises policies and regulations for operating within
the tourism industry in Japan. The JNTO aims at providing overall economic, social, cultural
development and environmental regulations.
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The economic development agencies in the region set rates and determine hotel rates, tourism
places rates, and other rates as against international standards. The town center management
organizations determine the attractions, their renovations and other features for local places of
interests for tourists visit (Buhalis and Darcy, 2010). Transport providers are responsible for the
functioning of public transport as well as private transport such as taxis and car rentals.
Figure 2: Tourism Stakeholder (Japan)
Source: Author
The various stakeholders of the Japan tourism sector include, for hospitality unit includes Ana
Intercontinental Tokyo. The hotel provides accommodation facility to its guests, it also provides
jobs to the people in Japan. Transport facility for Japan, includes Go Tokyo, provides
connectivity for tourists and helps in the creation of jobs for drivers (Tokyo, 2019). It assists in
providing greener transport options within the city limits as well as in the city fringes to bring a
positive impact to the environment. The American Heart Association is an organization that
arranges conferences for doctors traveling overseas. It aims at arranging entire tourism packages
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Tourism
Stakeholders
Hospitality - Ana
Intercontinental
Tokyo
Transport- Go
Tokyo
American Heart
Association -
Business Tourists
Local Businesses
Attractions
JNTO

for heart surgeons at cost-effective rates. The organization makes contact with various overseas
agents and tour company for making travel and tourism along with conference arrangements.
The Local Businesses are generally small entrepreneurs which provide products and services of
tourism. They generate income for the local populace from the selling of products and services.
Local Businesses make a contribution to the culture, society, and economy of Japan. They
promote cultures by providing local cuisines, food, tea and so on to tourists, these, in turn,
provides earning. The attractions are the avenues for major earning for Japan. They also act as a
cultural symbol by transmitting the inherent traditions of the country. Most of the stakeholders
stand to promote tourism in Japan, aiming at attracting tourists into their country.
 Exact role and contribution towards the development and delivery of the product;
Each of the stakeholders has their role and makes a contribution to the delivery and development
of the product offered to tourists. Every stakeholder aims at maximizing value for tourists such
that they can retain their attraction towards Japan, especially Tokyo. Restaurants and eateries
provide facilities for dining and breakfast as well as avenues for the meeting. Accommodation
providers hosting guests for the event and also often have conferencing facilities for guests. Ana
Intercontinental in Tokyo is a five star rated hotel category which offers various kinds of rooms
for business travelers (Hotels, 2019). Its Deluxe room category is well-suited for business
travelers, offering adequate room space, attached bathroom with necessary toiletries, mini-
refrigerator with room service. The multi-cuisine restaurants along with specialty restaurants
offering breakfast to dining features. The lodging facility at the hotel offers a comfortable stay
for guests and tourists, along with various facilities and amenities. The restaurant offers tasty and
healthy food for business tourists and other guests staying at the hotel. There are present chefs,
who can cook customized menus as well such to serve guests requirements. The hotel along with
the restaurant improvises products so as to delight guests and match their suitability. They aim at
maximizing customer experience such that they get repeated travelers and positive feedback on
their products and services.
Tour operators and conference organizers will hosts events for the business tourists. Go Tokyo is
a well-known tour organizer offering customized tour packages on basis of season and tourists
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interests. The Company not only offers customized tour packages but also offers transport
facilities for pick up and drop services as well as serves tourism requirements. The organization
works towards customized development of tour packages such that they can cater to tourists
requirements and meet their satisfaction levels.
The American Heart Association frequently arranges tours for Business Tourists such as heart
surgeons for undertaking conferences. The Associations coordinates and arranges a tour with
appropriate tour authorities in Japan so that the entire tour can operate in an effective manner.
The Local Businesses includes the various stores, shopping places, activities from where the
heart surgeons will be interacting during their trip. The Local Business will aim at enhancing the
experience whilst the doctors stay in Tokyo. They will aim at providing souvenirs, local food,
purchases and so on at cost effective rates and not charge exorbitant prices for the same. The
attractions based in Tokyo, Japan will be providing the essence of the country to the tourists.
Attractions such as sumo wrestling, rickshaw experience, tea tasting and so on, will be provided
to visitors, who want to experience the uniqueness of Japan.
 Exact role and contribution towards the enhancement of sustainability at the destination
level
The various stakeholders at the Tokyo destination need to contribute towards sustainability. Each
of the stakeholder within the tourism industry contributes in a different manner to the creation of
sustainability within the tourism industry (Getz and Timur, 2012, pg. 230). The JNTO devises
policies, regulations, and course of action such that tourism within the country takes place in a
sustainable manner. There are stringent environmental norms that have been developed and
implemented in order to create sustainability within the industry. The transport authority (Go
Tokyo) aims at greener and friendlier transport such that carbon footprints on the environment
can be reduced. The American Heart Association does not have much consideration for the
creation of environmentally sustainable tourism. The hospitality unit at Ana Intercontinental
Tokyo aims at processing its waste in an appropriate manner to reduce pollution created. It is
installing solar panels to increase environmental impact from its business and reduce carbon
footprints. Local businesses and attractions are well aware of the various environmental norms
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hence they produce products that environmentally sustainability in nature (Waligo, Clarke and
Hawkins, 2013, pg. 342-353). Recently there has been a great focus and rise in the creation of
environmentally sustainable norms in the tourism industry in Japan.
Conclusion
Rising tourism globally has led to a significant impact on the environment. There is hence a
growing need of sustainability amongst the various participants or stakeholders of tourism.
Creating awareness regarding the various impacts that tourism-related activity or an event might
cause might allow accommodating strategies specific to safeguard the environment. It is
impertinent to recognize the exact role and contribution that is made by each stakeholder on the
delivery of the tourism-related product. Tourism in Japan is increasing yearly and is focused on
the further increase, hence the participants of tourism are greatly increasing their awareness to
attain the same.
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