日本の離島における持続可能な観光振興の方向性

抄録

According to a survey by the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan, the country currently consists of 14,125 islands. Of these, 416 are inhabited. These remote islands face challenges such as aging populations and population decline. In response, the government has designated certain areas as “Specified Populated Remote Territorial Island Areas”, where budgets are allocated to support local communities. This includes reducing transportation costs, expanding employment opportunities by promoting business start-ups, and boosting tourism. Tourism, in particular, has been promoted as a way of bringing economic benefits, especially to resource-poor islands. This paper provides an overview of tourism on Japan’s remote islands, using materials published by government-related organizations. The focus is on social aspects, such as the role of remote islands and government support mechanisms. From the perspective of tourism contributing to sustainable development, I will present examples of remote islands that are registered as UNESCO World Natural Heritage sites, ecotourism initiatives aimed at conserving nature, and regional bottom-up geotourism initiatives in geoparks. I will also discuss sustainable tourism promotion on remote islands, with reference to responsible tourism in the Hawaiian Islands. To protect the natural environment, many remote islands have been designated as national parks or quasi-national parks, with eco-tour programs developed by the Ministry of the Environment. The UNESCO World Natural Heritage framework has also been introduced, with Yakushima Island and the Ogasawara Islands already registered, and efforts underway to protect and preserve their value. In recent years, UNESCO geoparks have been established in locations such as the Oki Islands, Izu Oshima Island, Sado Island, Himeshima Island, and the Goto Islands, focusing on preserving the geology and topography that reveal the islands’ origins and the history of their inhabitants. Through the connection to local culture, there is also a movement to revitalize the local economy through educational activities for the next generation and geotourism practices. Given the limited resources of the regions, for tourism to remain sustainable, both local communities and tourists must understand and respect the unique characteristics of each island and act accordingly.