抄録
The number of tourists visiting Hokkaido has been steadily increasing and reached over 51 million in 1999. While the number decreased to 48 million in 2000 due to the influence of the eruption of Usu Volcano, it again reached over 50 million in the following year. The economic effect of tourism in Hokkaido was estimated at over 1.8 trillion yen in 1999.
The development of tourism is a significant policy for the Hokkaido Government whose objective is to increase the number of tourists to 65 million by 2007.
The key tourism resources in Hokkaido are hot spring of underground resources and landscapes formed by geological movement that may sometimes cause disasters.
Geological studies are essential for sustainable use of hot springs and to develop landscape resources while taking into account disaster prevention.
