Sectional Workshop B： "Protecting Assets as a Way to Develop Tourism"
Instructed by Hiroshi Maeda
｡?aeda
I would like to discuss preservation and utilization of community and tourism assets from the standpoint of community development. For example, the Kurokabe Square in Nagahama City, although not specifically tourist oriented, can nevertheless be cited as an example of residents' commitment to rediscover their community and re-acknowledge its positive qualities. I believe that drawing out, into the here and now of tourism, the movement to know the community's richness and importance, is "building tourism which preserves and nurtures abundant assets."
In addition, in taking another look at what "tourism assets " are, we must give a proper explanation of how they came to be, and what meaning they have. This probably means the layering, or accumulation, of history and time, which is exactly the kind of tourism asset people are attracted to.
This can be described as the movement from "things to occurances," from "space-oriented to time-oriented," or to put it differently, "the accumulation of the knowledge of those who live there becoming assets for tourism." In other words , we believe that attractive tourism assets are born from what residents feel are positive.
I would like to ask you a question in turn. In your hearts and minds, how important is "tourism? " I'd appreciate your comments .
｡?articipant (Omi Hachiman Tourism Volunteer Guide Association)
The Omi Hachiman Tourism Volunteer Guide Association was started in 1992. I think the most important thing is to like the town you live in, and to think of community development in terms of creating a town about which you can be confident when showing to visitors, and which gives joy to the residents. That was the standpoint on which the Association was built, and now it's in its seventh year.
We believe tourism is everyone building towards community development. A community that's rewarding to live in, a community that other people want to try living in. We hope to broaden our movement so that not it's not just the guides who are learning about our town, but that the residents are also involved in some way.
｡?aeda
I appreciate the thinking of "everyone being involved in community development." And "tourism" can be one way to make our home towns a nice place.
○Participant (Yamamoto： Manager of Ryokan, Japanese style hoteD
When the Kurokabe Square was completed and the New Rapid Service came into Nagahama City, we temporarily had a dramatic increase in customers . However, as the stores in Kurokabe increased, and Kurokabe became self-sufficient in entertaining people, the result has been fewer customers for the surrounding areas. There's a strong concern that Nagahama is running solo, and the areas around it are being left behind. People are coming to Nagahama, but there's no ripple effect for the surrounding areas at all. That's 'the feeling that I have, particularly recently.
