A group of 31 undergraduate students from Hanyang University's School of Tourism successfully completed a joint research trip in Tokyo, Japan, along with students from the Department of International Culture and Tourism of the Tokyo Keizai University (University of Commerce, 流通経済大学) from November 8 to 11, 2023. This collaborative study tour, conducted annually, involves visiting major tourist destinations both domestically and internationally to engage in practical tourism development and marketing projects, representing a flagship academic event for Hanyang University's School of Tourism.

In contrast to the previous research trip, this recent expedition was conducted in collaboration with the Department of Cultural Tourism at the Tokyo Keizai University in Japan, with whom Hanyang University recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU). Nine professors (Yoon Kyung-hoon, Fukui Kazuki, Tamino Kentaro, Takahashi Nobuko, Azuma Miharu, Sugawa Mari, Ichioka Takeshi, Koyuda Mariko) and eight undergraduate students from the Tokyo Keizai University participated in the joint research trip. During the expedition period, eight joint teams composed of students from both universities conducted specific projects on tourism development themes, marketing strategies, and promotional approaches in the Tokyo area.

After the group research, team presentations were held under the guidance of Professor Yoon Kyung-hoon from Tokyo Keizai University and Professor Shin Hak-seung, from Hanyang University’s School of Tourism. The excellence of the teams was assessed based on the novelty of ideas, feasibility, and presentation skills, and outstanding teams were awarded. The first-place team consisted of students from Hanyang University’s School of Tourism, Park Won-woo (Class of '23), Jeon Ji-hyun (Class of '23), Park Si-eun (Class of '23), Sung Jun-woo (Class of '23), and Ishikawa Miku (Tokyo Keizai University). They successfully derived concepts and ideas for tourism products based on Japanese animation tourism after surveying the Akihabara area in Japan. Other presentations covered various topics, including strategies to promote gourmet tourism in Japan, activation ideas through a comparison of traditional markets in Korea and Japan, and the current status and analysis of promotional marketing strategies in the Tokyo area.
 

Students of Hanyang University's School of Tourism shared their impressions of the recent research trip, stating, "We were able to experience the local culture in a way that cannot be understood through research reading alone, allowing for in-depth learning," and "It was a meaningful time where we not only had meals with Japanese students but also formed teams to conduct surveys and presentations, creating a profound experience." The head of the Department of Tourism, Professor Shin Hak-seung who planned this research trip, emphasized this event stating, “We will continue to create meaningful research opportunities for students to gain practical knowledge by collaborating with overseas educational institutions and related organizations.” Following this event, the School of Tourism at Hanyang University plans to further expand the research areas for students to various countries and cultural regions in the future.