Using Persuasive Communication to Promote Responsible Inbound Tourism: The Case of the Snow Monkeys

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K11889
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 80020:Tourism studies-related
• Research Institution: Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
• Principal Investigator: Jones Thomas 立命館アジア太平洋大学, アジア太平洋学部, 准教授 (50611745)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: Wildlife Tourism / Inbound Tourism

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Wildlife tourism is a growing global market but the presence of humans has negative impacts for primates as park managers struggle to inform and educate the increasing inbound visitors. This project reviewed Interactions at some of Japan’s longest-running monkey parks thought to host some of the planet’s largest troop of uncaged Macaques. Despite the name Takasakiyama Natural Zoo (TNZ), macaques can be viewed by visitors under free-range conditions, throwing up challenges for persuasive communication. This research helped to clarify the positioning of monkey parks on a non-consumptive wildlife tourism spectrum.

Free Research Field

Wildlife tourism

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

As biodiversity faces multiple global threats, the role of wildlife tourism is paramount, but relies on cultural contexts, requiring flexibility in an era of inbound tourism especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.