Data collection for Tourism Statistics Up to 2005 collected information was keyed manually from paper forms into our database From the beginning of 2005 it has been possible to respond by an Internet questionnaire (09/2006 ~250 answers) - Information is entered manually into the questionnaire
From autumn 2005 it has been possible to send information direct from hotel management systems into our collection database (09/2006 ~55 answers) - Typically, no manual input needed at Statistics Finland or at hotels
Data are delivered direct from hotel management systems into our database - No manual work needed (except to initiate the transfer)
After their reception data are submitted to the standard validation process Software vendors implement a module for the hotel’s management software using Statistics Finland’s definitions for data and service interface Implemented using typical B2B integration technique: XML Web Services
Definition of automated reporting Information is saved on specified XML -file. Why? - XML -file can be specified accurately with XML -schema
- much of new data is based on XML
XML -file is send by using Web Service. Why? - After we have specified the WSDL description, the actual Web Service implementation takes just hours
- In Web Service we can control the transmission and authentication. User is informed ether success or failure
Experiences in Finland ”Data reporting is now extremely easy” said in Trade Magazine for Hotels and Restaurants. Data quality is good Response burden is almost zero, previously 1-2 hours per month. Cost have reduced in means of working hours, mailing and printing expenses Internet form is not used widely because printing and faxing reports is easier
Room capacity and opening days are not always updated - Correction is possible through web form
Updating hotel software’s takes time One country is a small market for a global software house. When there are different systems in every country it takes a long time to implement this system
How about international standard for automated data reporting? Standard data delivery specification (Web Service or ftp or…) Standard file format (XML or txt or …) Standard file description, same file for every country - Take what you need, leave the rest
Benefits
References: Using the Web for collecting data for business statistics in Finland (Prepared by Ilkka Hyppönen), UNECE / CES Plenary Session (Geneva, 13-15 June 2005). - http://www.unece.org/stats/documents/ces/2005/8.e.pdf
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