Summary
The Hokkaido Tourism Organization selected 24 regional projects for the FY2026 Hands-On Tourism Strengthening Program, ranging from Niseko marketing analytics to Shiretoko multi-day stay development.
The Hokkaido Tourism Organization announced on May 29, 2026 the selection of 24 regional projects for its FY2026 Hands-On Tourism Regional Strengthening Program. The projects span four categories, DMO support, wide-area cooperation, regional self-sustaining projects and tourism area building, with the aim of raising the earning power of Hokkaido destinations.
What happened
The organization selects supported projects annually and provides funding, mentoring and technical assistance. This year’s slate includes projects entering their first, second or final year of support and covers regions from the Niseko area in the west to Shiretoko and Nemuro in the east, plus southern Hokkaido cities like Hakodate.
Why it matters
The projects offer a clear window into where Hokkaido is directing its destination-development effort. Themes across the 24 selections include gastronomy tourism, adventure travel, wellness and hot-spring tourism, sake brewery tourism, multi-day itinerary development and inbound secondary-transport improvements.
Key details
- Number of projects: 24 selected for FY2026.
- Announcement: May 29, 2026.
- DMO category highlights: Niseko Promotion Board marketing analytics, Otaru port night-time content development, Mashuko Tourism Association destination circulation, and Wakkanai Tourism Association adventure travel access.
- Wide-area cooperation highlights: ONSEN JOURNEY to TOYA, Okhotsk sake brewery tourism (Abashiri), Tokachi gastronomy tourism (Obihiro), Daisetsuzan adventure travel, and Southern Daisetsuzan cross-town initiatives.
- Regional highlights: Discover Southern Hokkaido sustainable tourism, Shikabe educational travel, Minamifurano adventure travel base.
- Tourism area building highlights: Tobetsu samurai gastronomy, Niki orchard-and-wine gastronomy, Toyako guide facilities, Atsuma haskap gastronomy, Abashiri bird’s crossroad project, Shiretoko 3-night-4-day stay development, Hiroo local ingredients, Kushiro inbound secondary transport, Shibetsu SDGs home-stay, Hakodate regular sightseeing bus, and the Wa-Hakka wellness fair in Takinoue.
For international readers
The 24-project list is one of the best ways to preview what Hokkaido destinations will invest in during the coming year. Tour operators, hotels and international travel-trade partners can consult the list to identify potential regional partners aligned with their themes, and to plan familiarization trips accordingly.
Source: Hokkaido Tourism Organization selection list (PDF).
Source Details
| Source | Hokkaido Tourism Organization |
|---|---|
| Original Title | 北海道で観光地づくりに取り組む地域を支援 24事業採択 ー 令和8年度伴走支援型観光地域力強化推進事業 |
| Original Published | 2026-05-29 |
| Region | Hokkaido |
| Target Reader | general |
| Review Status | reviewed |
| Risk Level | normal |
| Original Source | Hokkaido Tourism Organization |
Editor Note
hokkaidopressに既にhokkaido-tourism-support-second-round-2026という関連記事が公開されているため、内容の切り分けを必ず確認してください。二次募集記事とは別に、一次採択24事業のリストを海外読者向けに紹介する形で差別化すると良いです。