I think the important task before us is to have a mid- to long-term vision when creating tourism products. The idea is to consider the actual residents. their actual life-space, as a tourism asset. Without this kind of thinking, and a solid, long-term attitude in development and promotion. I'm afraid tourism will not last.
｡?do
Thank you, panelists, for your insights into tourism in the general sense. I appreciate your observation that the lives and lifestyles of the people who thrive in the community, are also important assets for tourism. I would now like to ask for your opinions in relation to Shiga.
｡?irono
I think one of the challenges for tourism is creating and building an awareness toward things that are different from us, things we don't have. I would say the critical factor is the expression of individuality, of identity, for Shiga Prefecture and particularly for each of the communities surrounding Lake Biwa. In the sectional workshop I will be discussing methods for creating an energized community. The basics of community development start. I believe. with exploring the means to create a network of people with whom to rediscover and re-acknowledge our home towns.
｡?aeda
The regional assets are seeing the light of day again, from many different angles . The regional assets are being appreciated not only as "things" such as the actual buildings i.e. shrines and temples, but also as "occurances." Historic facts, legends and stories are seen in a new light. as the time axis to complement the space axis in the push to rediscover regional assets . Rediscovering th6 regional assets of Shiga means to take those which have been transmitted as merely "things" and convey them to the outside world as "occurances" too.
｡?akasaki
For Japanese people. though tourism is still very much a love affair with the excursion trip, more and more people have visited resorts . Those people want an environment which is different from their everyday. People are not after the same things they see in the cities. I think resorts need to have something that grows on people. I feel that the main challenge of resort creation is to give shape to this
habit-forming "something." I would like to continue this discussion at the sectional workshop with an eye to exploring the resort potential of Shiga Prefecture.
｡?do
Thank you, panelists, for the issues you have raised.
Shiga has much in terms of historic and cultural assets . Shiga's share of national treasures and important cultural properties is a remarkable 6.6% of the national total. which puts it in fourth place behind Tokyo, Kyoto and Nara. So there are these wonderful historic and cultural assets in this ordinary rural place. The crucial challenge is creating a network around these assets . In the past 3 or 4 years I have
noticed many more examples of such networking . I look forward to the sectional workshops that follow, at which I expect there will be lively exchanges of opinion. Thank you very much.
