#Japan #HIS #Ibaraki City #Shiiba Village #Ibaraki, Shiiba

HIS Initiates Employee Deployment for Local Revitalization

HIS (HIS Co., Ltd.) has recently entered into agreements to deploy employees to Ibaraki City in Osaka Prefecture and Shiiba Village in Miyazaki Prefecture under the Cabinet Office's "Local Revitalization Human Resource Support System." These deployments aim to enhance local tourism strategies and provide valuable expertise to improve community engagement and visitor attraction.

Deployment to Ibaraki City

The agreement with Ibaraki City includes several projects focused on analyzing the current state of tourism initiatives and pinpointing challenges faced by the municipality. The key objectives of the deployment are:

1. Conducting a comprehensive analysis of the existing tourism strategies in Ibaraki City.
2. Creating guidelines to improve tourism and related initiatives.
3. Implementing the strategies outlined in the specifications based on thorough analysis.
4. Providing knowledge and expertise necessary for formulating and promoting effective tourism policies.
5. Undertaking activities related to industrial promotion and tourism enhancement.

This initiative is set to start on May 1, 2025, and last until March 31, 2026.

The employee selected for this assignment, Katsuhira Ogura, has a strong background in travel sales and marketing, having joined HIS in 2000 and accumulating extensive experience in both domestic and international travel sectors.

Ibaraki City is ideally situated just 20 minutes from Osaka and Kyoto, making it an attractive suburban area known for its quality of life. In recent developments, the city introduced the country’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge at the newly established "Dam Park Ibakita," offering visitors a breathtaking view and various thrilling activities like "Bridge Climb" and "Bridge Swing." With their accumulated knowledge, HIS personnel will help transform Ibaraki City’s tourism landscape by analyzing existing services and implementing new strategies to maximize opportunities for visitors.

Deployment to Shiiba Village

Simultaneously, HIS has committed to supporting Shiiba Village in Miyazaki Prefecture, focusing on advancing the 5th Shiiba Village Tourism Promotion Plan. The objectives include:

1. Promoting action plans based on the 5th Shiiba Village Tourism Promotion Plan.
2. Providing various forms of support for tourism initiatives.
3. Developing routes and communication strategies to attract both domestic and international visitors.
4. Addressing additional tourism needs identified by the Shiiba Village Tourism Association.

The planned duration for this deployment mirrors that of Ibaraki City, spanning from May 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, with the possibility of extending up to three years if required.

Rei Araki, the employee dispatched to Shiiba Village, has been with HIS since 2008, bringing valuable experience from previous roles focused on tour planning, particularly within the Kanto region and Asia.

Shiiba Village is renowned for its breathtaking terraced rice fields enveloped in fog and its cultural heritage, including traditional Kaguya dances and folk songs. HIS previously partnered with Sato Yume Co., Ltd., to launch the "Destination Create Project" aimed at establishing new tourism destinations in the area. Through the current deployment, HIS aims to contribute to the village's vision of promoting itself as a unique, irreplaceable destination. Their efforts will focus on executing tourism promotion plans and embody the essence of Shiiba Village's identity.

In summary, HIS's strategic employee placements in both Ibaraki City and Shiiba Village signify a robust commitment to supporting local tourism strategies, ensuring that these communities optimize their unique offerings and enhance their appeal to visitors, ultimately paving the way for sustainable local development.