Turning Earth’s History into Parks: Revitalizing Regional Communities with Geoparks Geology is a New Tourism Resource
Raising awareness among citizens
Though the Itoigawa Geopark seems ideal, there remain issues that need to be solved. The most difficult and pressing is the notification of city residents. Even though the value of geological assets in the area has been recognized globally, the jade gorges, volcano and onsen are features present since long ago. “Tourists to the Geopark will be greatly disappointed if city residents said they don’t know anything about it or that there is nothing much to see in the area,” Iwasaki says. “There is a pressing need to have local residents understand the value of the Itoigawa Geopark and reaffirm their love for the features of their hometown.”
Another issue pointed out at the 2nd JGN Meeting is the need for wide-region collaboration. In the case of Itoigawa, the Geopark is within the city, but in many areas Geoparks stretch across several localities in numerous areas, such as Lake Toya and Mt. Usu, the San-in Coast, Shimabara Peninsula and Kirishima Geoparks. This situation has posed another challenge.
When agreements are sought among several localities, a detrimental habit of making everything even among the localities always surfaces. Adhering to this principle of equality can lead to unnecessary tourist facilities and guided tours, and this can even prevent the attractive features of the Geopark from being fully conveyed. In wide-region Geoparks, measures are needed that allow localities to collaborate effectively and synergistic effects to take place in the area.
Translated from “Jio paaku de chiiki kasseika, ‘chishitsu’ga aratana kanko shigen (Turning earth’s history into parks — Revitalizing regional communities with geoparks. Geology is a new tourism resource),” Shukan Ekonomisto, October 25, 2011, pp. 93–95. (Courtesy of Mainichi Shimbunsha)
OKETANI Hitoshi is a writer.
