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Marine ecotourism in Japan: Challenges and
Lessons
presented by
Masaru Takayama
ABSTRACT
Japan enjoys its 33,889 kilometers of her
coastline, about 85% of the earth’s
circumference. This also means that there are
many areas suitable for ecotours as well as
fishing. Fishing came long time before
ecotourism, said to be more than 10,000 years
ahead, and still is one of the leading
industries supporting Japanese diet.
Careful planning of coexistence and/or
segregation of fishing and any water-related
recreation is necessary while minimizing
environmental impacts and generating profit for
both businesses.
Japan is starting to introduce guidelines and
pertinent policies for protection and sound
development of marine ecotourism products.
Utilizing case studies in Hokkaido and Okinawa,
this topical issue will provide the audience
with an opportunity to get some ideas for marine
ecotourism operators and policy makers.
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BIO-DATA
 Masaru Takayama Masaru
Executive
Director
Japan Ecolodge Association
Casa Verde Takatsuji
901,
329 Kotsuyacho, Shimogyoku,
Kyoto 6008425
takayama@japan-ecolodge.org
Phone: 81 –
75 344 5254 Fax: 81 – 75 344 0515
Takayama
founded and chairs the first ecolodge association in the
world since 2003, Japan Ecolodge Association (http://www.japan-ecolodge.org/),
to promote and disseminate the concepts of ecotourism
and ecolodge uniting responsible tourism,
environmentally-sound design and materials.
The
association headquarters in Kyoto, a city known for its
UN Protocol, proudly works with nationwide members
trying to achieve the world standards in both
environmental and financial sustainability. Its ecolodge
member countries comprise Japan, Australia, U.S.A.,
Thailand, Malaysia, Mongolia, Costa Rica, and Brazil.
Masaru has extensive working experience in the energy
conservation and eco-products for green accommodations
in two of the most technologically advanced countries,
U.S.A and Japan.
Currently
working as an independent ecolodge/ecotourism
consultant, a certified energy conservation advisor
under Japanese national energy conservation program and
an escorted tour operator based in Kyoto, Masaru tries
to apply his knowledge to the existing accommodations to
improve sustainability and reduce energy consumption
while increasing the level of welfare in neighboring
communities as well as revitalizing the local economy by
introducing community-based rural and sustainable tours
in Kyoto and its vicinities.
Masaru also
serves as a board member of The International Ecotourism
Society (TIES)( http://www.ecotourism.org/), playing a
major role in the promotion of global ecotourism
especially in Asia Pacific to conserve nature, culture,
history and other important local assets with a tool of
ecolodge.
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