Environment Ministry Selects Model Areas for Eco-tourism

In June 2004, Japan's Ministry of the Environment (MOE) selected 13 areas for implementing a model project promoting eco-tourism. The project will continue for three years starting in fiscal 2004. Through eco-tourism, visitors can enjoy nature while caring for the environment. The MOE will subsidize half the total project costs, such as costs for training eco-tour guides and publishing educational materials, up to five million yen (about $U.S. 48,000) per model area per year.

Eco-tourism is a new form of travel in which a limited number of people escorted by a trained guide enjoy visiting a rich natural environment while causing least environmental impact possible. While eco-tours have been gaining popularity around the world, they are still not well known in Japan and few Japanese people have experienced an eco-tour.

In selecting project areas, the MOE held an open competition in three categories; (1) areas for encountering primitive nature, (2) existing tourist spots that are introducing eco-tourism and (3) areas for experiencing eco-friendly activities such as tree planting in semi-natural areas bordering rural villages and agricultural areas located between population centers and foothills where eco-tourism is being promoted by local communities. Among 53 areas which entered the competition, the following areas have been selected; in category (1), four areas including the Shiretoko Peninsula in Hokkaido and the Shirakami Beech Forest, located between Aomori and Akita prefectures, in category (2), four areas including the northern foothills of Mt. Fuji in Yamanashi Prefecture and in category (3), five areas including the Nanki-Kumano area, located between Mie and Wakayama prefectures.


Posted: 2004/08/18 12:58:29 PM
Japanese version