International Symposium on Green Tourism 2023
-A Challenge toward Environmentally Friendly Tourism for Prosperous Communities-

グリーンな観光の普及啓発国際シンポジウム

International Symposium on Green Tourism 2023 -A Challenge toward Environmentally Friendly Tourism for Prosperous Communities-

Organized by: Japan Tourism Agency/ UNWTO Regional Support Office for Asia and the Pacific

Date

February 10, 2023 (Fri) 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.(JST)

Format of event

Hybrid style (in-person/online)

Language: Japanese/English (simultaneous interpretation)

Maximum number of participants

[First come, first served basis]
In-person: 200/Online: 800

Participants

Tourism-related businesses and organizations, international organizations and
local government officials, those interested in green tourism and the environment, etc. can apply.

Venue
The Grand Hall (Shinagawa, Tokyo)
  • Registration required
  • Free of charge

Outline

Do you know that there is a growing interest in environmentally friendly tourism?

In recent years, our planet has been hit by global warming and extreme weather, and people are becoming more conscious of the environment in their daily lives than ever before.

The same is true in the field of tourism. Green tourism has become more common, especially among travelers and tourism operators in Europe, the U.S., and Australia, as well as being brought up frequently in international discussions. It will attract more attention in the future.

In Japan, on the other hand, we could say that green tourism is not recognized and people do not understand what it is and what benefits it offers very well.

Green tourism not only preserves the natural environment in local communities, but also stimulates new tourism demand and promotes local employment. Therefore it contributes to sustainable tourism that realizes a virtuous cycle of economy and society in communities.

In this symposium, we will invite local governments and tourism-related businesses from inside and outside Japan as panelists who are working together to promote initiatives for green tourism in their communities and show some good practices. We hope that it will help to deepen your understanding of green tourism and make efforts for it in the future.

What Is Green Tourism?

In this symposium, we position green tourism as environmentally friendly tourism in one type of sustainable tourism.

Among the six lines of action, which represent several key elements in the “Recommendations for the Transition to a Green Travel and Tourism Economy (2021)” presented by the UNWTO Regional Support Office for Asia and the Pacific,we conducted a survey focusing on efforts related to climate action, biodiversity conservation, and the circular economy, including. reducing CO2 emissions at tourist destinations, accommodation facilities and tour programmes, reducing food waste and plastics, and protecting biodiversity and natural resources.

Program

Language: Japanese/English (simultaneous interpretation)

1:15 p.m.

Doors open(for in-person participants)

2:00 p.m.

Opening Remarks

UNWTO Regional Support Office for Asia and the Pacific

Part 1

2:05 p.m.

Keynote Speech 1

Dr. Dirk Glaesser, Director, UNWTO Sustainable Development of Tourism Department

2:25 p.m.

Keynote Speech 2

Prof.Ayako Toko, Tokyo Woman’s Christian University

Part 2

2:45 p.m.

Overview of Survey Results

JTB Tourism Research & Consulting Co.

2:55 p.m.

Presentations - Domestic and Overseas Case Study

  • Caroline Anderson, Director, DMAP (Destination Management Action Plan), Hawaii Tourism Authority
  • Asuka Hamakawa, Executive Directors and Co-Founders of Earth Company, Indonesia/Hotel Owners of Mana Ly Paradise
  • Naoto Endo, Representative Director, Tofuya Ryokan,
  • Akinobu Ishimatsu, Head of Town Planning Section, Aso City
4:25 p.m.

Break

Part 3

4:35 p.m.

Panel Discussion

Panelists

5:25 p.m.

Closing Remarks

Japan Tourism Agency

5:30 p.m.

Networking between speakers and in person participants (free participation)

6:00 p.m.

Close

  • Please note that speakers and program are subject to change without notice.
  • Considering the purpose of this symposium (environmentally friendly initiatives such as reduction of plastic and food waste etc.), please note that we will not provide drinks during the break.
  • We would appreciate your feedback on the symposium by a brief questionnaire (online).
    (For both in-person and online participants)

Speakers

Keynote Speech

  • Dr. Dirk Glaesser

    Dr. Dirk Glaesser

    Director,
    UNWTO Sustainable Development
    of Tourism Department

  •  藤稿 亜矢子氏

    Ayako Toko

    Professor
    Division of Global Social Sciences
    School of Arts and Sciences
    Tokyo Woman’s Christian University

Case Study Presentation

  • キャロライン・アンダーソン氏

    Caroline
    Anderson

    Planning Director, Hawaii Tourism Authority

  • 濱川 明日香氏

    Asuka Hamakawa

    Representative Director, Earth Company

  • 遠藤直人氏

    Naoto Endo

    Representative Director, Tofuya Ryokan (Yamagata Prefecture)

  • 石松 昭信氏

    Akinobu Ishimatsu

    Section Manager, Town Planning Section, Economy Department, Aso City

  • 船橋 慶延氏

    Yoshinobu Funabashi

    CEO, Hachimantai Geo Farm, (Iwate Prefecture) CEO, Hachimantai Geothermal Utilization Project Joint Enterprise Cooperative

  • 濵中 玲子氏

    Reiko Hamanaka

    CEO, Tokuto LLC

Panelists

  • ミツエ・ヴァーレイ氏

    Mitsue Varley

    Country Director, Hawai’i Tourism Japan

Venue

会場地図

The Grand Hall (Shinagawa, Tokyo)

[Address]

Shinagawa Grand Central Tower 3F
2-16-4 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo

[Access]

(1) 5 minutes walk from JR Line Shinagawa Station Konan Exit
(2) 5 minutes walk from Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen Shinagawa Station Konan Exit
(3) 8 minutes walk from Keikyu Shinagawa Station

Application Method

STEP1

Fill the required items on the application form.

STEP2

A confirmation email will be sent to the registered email address.

A final information email will be sent by the day before the symposiumevent.

STEP3

Ont the day of the symposium, please inform your name and your company name or organization name at the reception.

STEP1

Fill the required items on the application form.

STEP2

When the application is complete, you will receive a ZOOM URL at the email address you entered.

A final information email will be sent by the day before the event.

STEP3

On the day, please access to zoom URL.