Tourism Nation, Japan!!
(Original in Japanese)

Asuka Nagatani
(Age 19, Japan)
Nara Prefectural University

I believe we are entering an age in which regional communities will be sustaining the nation of Japan. This trend is apparent in today’s society, which is headed toward greater decentralization and support of regional system. I realized through my own experience that regional communities in Japan are full of wonderful vitality. I think that by promoting “tourism,” we can capitalize on this vitality and build a society where people can respect themselves and respect others.

Last year, I was involved in rural development of a village adjacent to Nara City. At first, I thought that the village had nothing to offer, and the village people were closed. However, the village people’s consciousness about their own community began to change when they started accepting visitors for extended-stay tour program, which offered experiences in farming and homestays in farmhouses. They began to show some definite changes—for example, arranging tours voluntarily, and making preparations to receive visitors. Furthermore, unity was born in the village where community links among the people had been weakening, and a bright atmosphere began to prevail in the village.

Through this experience, I sensed the great potential of a community to make full use of the resources they already have. The village is not particularly famous as a tourist destination. They have neither a national treasure nor a world heritage site, but they proved that such a community without particular distinction could sustain and revitalize itself. Surely, the overall atmosphere of the village became positive. I think it is attributed to the fact that the people gained pride and confidence in their own community, and realized they are needed by others who say, “I want to go to your place.” I guess the community energy devoted to sustaining itself works to enliven the whole place.
 
From this experience, I say that “tourism” is one of the effective means for a community to survive and have leverage. I am not talking about developing new tourist attractions like a theme park, but about promoting a “tourism that utilizes existing resources.” Otherwise, it will not lead to sustainable economic development or genuine progress of people who live there. Then, what are the specific things I can do? I think I can “bring a breath of fresh air to the community” by working together on ideas to capitalize on the resources that are available.

I once had a chance to meet a director of a nonprofit organization that was established to promote tourism in my city of Nara. He cooperates with college students to plan projects to boost the economic development of the city. For example, they open an old house as a bar on high days and days of festival. He told me that the creativity of college students and young people in general can turn tides in a community.

So, I wish to cooperate with businesses and community groups and offer my ideas. Nara City, for example, has a number of local industries and traditional handicrafts including Japanese vermicelli, textile, and Yoshino cedar craftwork. In cooperation with businesses in these industries, I want to bring a fresh sensitivity to the community through activities like arranging experiential tours and designing products for young people. For example, I have an idea of a tour for participants to experience the processes of making vermicelli and to enjoy eating it afterwards. Another idea is to have tour participants draw a pattern on paper, scan it into a PC, and make socks and T-shirts. Since my college cooperates with local businesses and communities, we have many opportunities to visit factories, and we have more chances than students of other colleges to offer our suggestions and ideas. Therefore, it is possible for me to cooperate and work with local communities and businesses on site, and I think the above ideas are quite feasible.