Matkahuolto's Open Interfaces Attract Tourism Sector

Matkahuolto's open interfaces have seen a significant surge in interest from the tourism sector, with usage growing considerably since 2016. The company was the first market-driven operator to make its timetable, stop, route, and price data available through an open interface.

The growing interest is attributed to Matkahuolto's comprehensive public transport data and the trend towards ecological travel. The company states that open communication about data availability has boosted its adoption. The data has attracted interest from entities such as foreign travel websites, event organizers, and inbound tourism promoters.

Matkahuolto is continuously developing its platform to ensure reliable and secure data access for external users. The company aims to enhance the developer experience and is exploring ways to optimize its operations within the API economy. The obligation for all operators to open their interfaces came into effect in 2018 under the transport services act.

Development efforts include collaborative projects to create new services. For instance, Matkahuolto is working with Europe's largest outdoor portal to develop additional services for sustainable travel, including ensuring bicycle space reservations on buses.