The Japan Tourism Agency (JTA) who joined GSTC as a Destination Member in 2020, sponsored three GSTC Sustainable Tourism Trainings in different locations for destination representatives and tourism industry stakeholders in Japan.
The GSTC Trainings in Japan were held in the following destinations:
1. Tsuruoka Yamagata, from the 14th to the 16th of December, 2024. Participants had the opportunity to visit Daishinbo Pilgrim’s Lodge. Discussions focused on recognizing the heritage value of these traditional lodgings and the surrounding streets. The visit highlighted the importance of preserving their authenticity while finding sustainable ways to utilize them for tourism, ensuring that their cultural legacy remains a vital part of the visitor experience.
In Tsuruoka, participants also toured the town to learn about the Touge Shukubo community and Yamabushi culture and their harmony with the buildings and spaces. Shukubo refers to accommodation for temple visitors, while Yamabushi are ascetic monks who practice Shugendō in the mountains.
2. Takayama Gifu, from the 20th to the 22nd of December, 2024. Participants had the opportunity to visit Honjin Hiranoya. Discussions highlighted initiatives such as reducing amenities to minimize waste and prioritizing the use of local products to support the regional economy and sustainability. Additionally, local shops showcased their commitment to inclusive tourism through multilingual explanations and considerations for Muslim travelers, demonstrating efforts to create a more welcoming and accessible destination for diverse visitors.
3. Meiwa-cho, Mie, from the 30th of January to the 1st of February, 2025. 15 participants had the opportunity to visit Nishiwaki-den, a restored facility within the nationally designated “Saiku” site. Saiku was a place where the emperor retired to maintain purity before performing rituals. For 660 years, from the 7th to the 13th century, there were more than 100 buildings and 520 people serving in the Saiku. Today, 137 hectares are protected as a buried historical site.
Almost all of the cultural properties are buried under the ground and the actual objects are not visible. The participants discussed how to show their value through interpretation and how to make them attractive as tourist attractions.
All three trainings were led by Kazuhiro Arai, Representative of Daisetsuzan Nature School, who shared his knowledge and expertise with practical examples and valuable insights and provided the participants with the essential knowledge and skills to champion sustainable tourism practices and learn in-depth about the GSTC Criteria, the global standards for sustainability in tourism and travel. The inclusion of global and local case studies enhanced the value of the training.
Upon successful course completion, participants receive a certificate of completion and become eligible to take an optional official exam to obtain the GSTC Professional Certificate in Sustainable Tourism.
If you are interested in contributing to the industry’s sustainable transformation, consider checking out GSTC’s upcoming courses here.
