The GSTC Sustainable Tourism Course, sponsored by Kobe University, was held with the participation of local and external tourism stakeholders and students from the Graduate School of Intercultural Studies at Kobe University. The course took place from March 18th to 20th, 2025, in Kannabe Kougen, located in Toyooka City, Hyogo, a region renowned for being the last habitat of wild storks in Japan and a symbol of biodiversity conservation and coexistence efforts.
Led by Professor Emeritus Mami Futagami of Meijo University, the training provided participants with a comprehensive understanding of sustainable tourism practices guided by the GSTC Standards.
Participants had the opportunity to deepen their learning through field visits that highlighted real-world examples of sustainability in action. The group explored Kannabe Kogen, a plateau within the San’in Coast Geopark and one of western Japan’s oldest ski resorts. Mr. Yasuaki Okafuji, Chair of the Hidaka Kannabe Tourism Association, led a tour of the volcanic landscape, sharing how the local tourism sector is adapting to climate change, particularly the issue of snow shortages caused by global warming.
The program also included a visit to Shinya, a family-owned guest house, where Mr. Yutaro Iida, the owner and Chair of the Sustainable Tourism Committee, discussed the property’s sustainability initiatives. These include using electricity from renewable, non-CO2-emitting sources and providing meals made with rice and vegetables grown on-site.
The training underscored the importance of integrating sustainability principles into tourism management and destination stewardship, offering students a hands-on experience of how communities in Japan are embracing sustainable tourism to protect natural and cultural heritage.
If you are interested in contributing to the industry’s sustainable transformation, consider checking out GSTC’s upcoming courses here.
