Practical Study on the Implementation of Tourism Destination Management by Using the Sustainable Tourism Indicator - A Case Study on Oku-Nikko -

Abstract

STI - Sustainable Tourism Indicator - is to monitor the status of tourism destinations by presenting with multiple indicators, and by measuring as quantitative data. Examples have been reported on Australia’s Kangaroo Island and multiple areas in Ireland. This study, in an assumption that STI model was an effective method of a collaborative management of a tourism destination, experimentally implemented it to the area of Oku-Nikko, and verified its effectiveness and points of attention. Upon the process of setting STI, the local collaborators voluntarily participated in the discussions of specific items of measuring and methods of questionnaire survey, interested in the objective understanding of the statuses of tourists and tourism economy, and awareness of local residents. And in every occasion, we were able to form and accumulate a small consensus. As a result of status observation, we considered that STI model was effective in understanding and sharing the current status of the area and its issues, and as a communication tool upon discussions for the future plans as well as in building consensuses of some kinds.