The move is a part of an effort to create new tourism-related services by analyzing the data collected. The government aims to put the database into practical use nationwide in 2020 when Tokyo hosts the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

This fiscal year, the government is conducting a pilot test on a system that allows foreign tourists to verify their identities and make purchases using their fingerprints. The experiment is under way in three locations: the Tokyo metropolitan area, the Kansai area and Fukuoka.

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If foreign visitors register their fingerprints and personal information, such as credit card numbers, at airports and elsewhere after arriving in Japan, they can make payments by placing their fingers on special devices at lodging facilities, souvenir stores and other participating locations.

With the consent of foreigners who use the system, information is also collected on such aspects as gender, nationality and items purchased.

Next fiscal year, the government plans to increase the number of areas subject to the trial by about 10 and establish a list of 18 items on which participating areas will collect information, according to the sources.

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However, sufficient information might not be collected, as foreign visitors could get concerned about providing travel routes and other specific personal data.

The government intends to draw up guidelines that will stipulate how those participating in the trial will clearly convey to foreign visitors the intended use of such data and how they will obtain consent so all participants are thoroughly informed, the sources said.

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