The changes in regional transit are dizzying, with the development of new technologies such as ICT and EVs, field trials toward the introduction of self-driving vehicles, and progress in the introduction of new transit systems such as BRT (Bus Rapid Transit), subsidized transportation in public transit deserts, and integration of passenger and freight transport. At the same time, in tourism markets, in addition to the rapid growth of the inbound market, the shift to FIT encompassing both foreign and domestic travel is progressing, and the importance of regional transit is growing.
In this special feature, we examine how tourism can contribute when communities facing issues such as an aging population and labor shortages drive regional development supported by public transit amid these environmental changes through the views of researchers and the advanced case studies we have gathered.