XML- based Automated Data Collection 8th International Forum on Tourism Statistics 14. November 2006, Cáceres, Spain Ville Vertanen

28th Internationa Forum on Business Statistics Introduction - Strategies Statistics Finlands Strategy for EDR (Electronic Data Reporting) To offer an electronic option in all data collections by 2007 (not in person statistics) Its the respondents choice whether to use it or not Business Data Collections About 50 surveys (excluding collections with less than 30 respondents) 45 Web (Internet form) collections in use Slide only in handout

38th Internationa Forum on Business Statistics Tourism Statistics Monthly questionnaire Includes all establishments with 10 or more rooms, cottages or caravan pitches Covers 90% of room capacity in Finland Enquiry covers 1,406 accommodation establishments in 2006, of which 756 hotels 185 similar establishments 283 camping sites 132 holiday villages 50 youth hostels

48th Internationa Forum on Business Statistics 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 Slide only in handout

58th Internationa Forum on Business Statistics Data collection with paper questionnaire Accommodation establishment Statistics Finland Head agency Accommodation establishment Database manual print manual print manual Manual phases needed From SF to accomm. est. - Reminders and feedback by mail Slide only in handout

68th Internationa Forum on Business Statistics Data collection via the Internet Accommodation establishment Statistics Finland Accommodation establishment Database manual -Manual input needed at hotels but not at Statistics Finland - Reminders and feedback by

78th Internationa Forum on Business Statistics Direct data collection Accommodation establishment Statistics Finland Head agency Accommodation establishment Database - No manual input needed - Reminders and feedback by

88th Internationa Forum on Business Statistics Direct data collection 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 hotels management software using Statistics Finlands definitions for data and service interface Implemented using typical B2B integration technique: XML Web Services Slide only in handout

98th Internationa Forum on Business Statistics Response activity via the Internet

108th Internationa Forum on Business Statistics

118th Internationa Forum on Business Statistics 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

128th Internationa Forum on Business Statistics Experiences in Finland Data reporting is now extremely easy said in Trade Magazine for Hotels and Restaurants. Data quality is good Data is coming faster than before, just few days after reference period 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

138th Internationa Forum on Business Statistics Encountered problems Room capacity and opening days are not always updated Correction is possible through web form Updating hotel softwares 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

148th Internationa Forum on Business Statistics 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 Software houses need to build only one system, this leads to faster implementation Maybe free for the user, because no country specifications is needed Good comparability between countries Hotels can send the same file for example to their head agency

158th Internationa Forum on Business Statistics References: Using the Web for collecting data for business statistics in Finland (Prepared by Ilkka Hyppönen), UNECE / CES Plenary Session (Geneva, June 2005). Contact: Mr. Ville Vertanen tel