General Study

A Study on Improvement of Attractiveness of Roadside Rest Facilities and Parking Spaces

In Hokkaido, where tourism is a key industry, the number of tourists driving rented cars is increasing yearly. In particular, the number of such overseas tourists has increased dramatically, making this area of tourism internationally competitive. Since traveling distances are long in Hokkaido, roadside stations are particularly important as roadside rest areas, and it is also known from past studies that such roadside stations have significant influence on the satisfaction levels of self-drive tourism. However, since current emphasis is on the sale of goods and supply of food and drinks, the response to the needs of rest areas is insufficient.

Against such a background, this study presents specific measures to improve the attractiveness of roadside stations as rest areas, through fact-finding surveys and interviews with users, while developing a method of establishing attractive roadside parking facilities.

 

Pleasant rest area