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2015 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report

The Importance of Geoparks for Tourism in Japan

Research Project

Project/Area Number 25501028
Research InstitutionRitsumeikan Asia Pacific University

Principal Investigator

COOPER M・J・M  立命館アジア太平洋大学, アジア太平洋学部, 教授 (50369146)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) VAFADARI Kazem  立命館アジア太平洋大学, アジア太平洋学部, 准教授 (70628049)
Project Period (FY) 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
KeywordsField studies / Japanese Geoparks / Geoparks and Geotourism / Yadz and Qeshm Island / Visitor management / Educational tools / Sri Lanka National Parks / Australian Geoparks
Outline of Annual Research Achievements

This project investigated the value of geotourism in Japan by analyzing the geology, history and culture, educational value, marketing, site preservation, visitor management, location, safety, and development potential within Japanese, Australasian, and Middle East Geoparks. The study was carried out in 3 parts: data collection and literature review, plus a small number of local and international field surveys of existing Geoparks. In 2015 we completed the field studies by further visits to Geoparks in Japan, Australia, Sri Lanka, and Qeshm Island and Yadz in Iran. Qeshm Island is particularly important, as it is a failed Geopark and we needed our final recommendations to take such situations into account in their strategies. The field surveys were carried out utilizing a set of standardized questionnaires covering economic value, geological resources, social and cultural impacts, risk analyses, and educational program analyses. A series of focus discussions with government and industry representatives covering each site were held. Professor Vafadari collected and analyzed environmental and activity data at the field sites and Professor Cooper conducted tourist interviews and discussions with relevant officials. In addition, these activities provided psychological and sociological analyses of local inhabitants and tourist responses to the concepts of Geoparks and Geotourism. We have begun publication of the results and have compiled the main findings and policy recommendations for the various Government bodies and private organizations that assisted in the research.

  • Research Products

    (13 results)

All 2017 2016 2015

All Journal Article (7 results) (of which Peer Reviewed: 7 results,  Acknowledgement Compliant: 7 results) Presentation (3 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 3 results,  Invited: 1 results) Book (3 results)

  • [Journal Article] Participatory Approaches to Environmental Management: Future Designs for Water Resources Management2016

    • Author(s)
      Cooper, M., Kato, H., and Nakagami, K.
    • Journal Title

      Sustainable Water Management: New Perspectives, Design, and Practices, edited by Ken’ichi Nakagami, Jumpei Kubota, and Budi I. Setiawan (Book)

      Volume: - Pages: 印刷中

    • Peer Reviewed / Acknowledgement Compliant
  • [Journal Article] Conclusions: The Future of Sustainable Water Management2016

    • Author(s)
      Cooper, M.
    • Journal Title

      Sustainable Water Management: New Perspectives, Design, and Practices, edited by Ken’ichi Nakagami, Jumpei Kubota, and Budi I. Setiawan (Book)

      Volume: - Pages: 印刷中

    • Peer Reviewed / Acknowledgement Compliant
  • [Journal Article] Dynamic Archipelago: The Geological, Geomorphological and Ecological Characteristics of Japan’s Natural Heritage2016

    • Author(s)
      Cooper, M.
    • Journal Title

      Natural Heritage of Japan: Geological, Geomorphological, and Ecological Aspects, edited by M. Cooper, A. Chakraborty, S. Chakaraborty, K. Mokudai, and M. Watanabe (Book)

      Volume: - Pages: 印刷中

    • Peer Reviewed / Acknowledgement Compliant
  • [Journal Article] The Natural Heritage of Japan - Volcanoes and their Impacts2016

    • Author(s)
      Cooper, M.
    • Journal Title

      Natural Heritage of Japan: Geological, Geomorphological, and Ecological Aspects, edited by M. Cooper, A. Chakraborty, S. Chakaraborty, K. Mokudai, and M. Watanabe (Book)

      Volume: - Pages: 印刷中

    • Peer Reviewed / Acknowledgement Compliant
  • [Journal Article] The Natural Heritage of Japan - The Unzen Geopark2016

    • Author(s)
      Cooper, M.
    • Journal Title

      Natural Heritage of Japan: Geological, Geomorphological, and Ecological Aspects, edited by M. Cooper, A. Chakraborty, S. Chakaraborty, K. Mokudai, and M. Watanabe (Book)

      Volume: - Pages: 印刷中

    • Peer Reviewed / Acknowledgement Compliant
  • [Journal Article] The Natural Heritage of Japan - Lake Akan2016

    • Author(s)
      Cooper, M.
    • Journal Title

      Natural Heritage of Japan: Geological, Geomorphological, and Ecological Aspects, edited by M. Cooper, A. Chakraborty, S. Chakaraborty, K. Mokudai, and M. Watanabe (Book)

      Volume: - Pages: 印刷中

    • Peer Reviewed / Acknowledgement Compliant
  • [Journal Article] Conclusion: Protecting and Experiencing the Geological, Geomorphological and Ecological Aspects of Japan2016

    • Author(s)
      Cooper, M., and Chakraborty, A.
    • Journal Title

      Natural Heritage of Japan: Geological, Geomorphological, and Ecological Aspects, edited by M. Cooper, A. Chakraborty, S. Chakaraborty, K. Mokudai, and M. Watanabe (Book)

      Volume: - Pages: 印刷中

    • Peer Reviewed / Acknowledgement Compliant
  • [Presentation] Heritage Tourism in Agricultural Landscapes: Case Studies from Japan2015

    • Author(s)
      K. Vafadari
    • Organizer
      78th TOSOK International Tourism Conference
    • Place of Presentation
      Seoul, Korea
    • Year and Date
      2015-07-03
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Cruise Tourism and Environmental Management: The Case of Mini-Cruise in Lake Bracciano, Italy2015

    • Author(s)
      K. Vafadari
    • Organizer
      78th TOSOK International Tourism Conference
    • Place of Presentation
      Seoul, Korea
    • Year and Date
      2015-07-03
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Knowledge Transfer in the Tourism Industry: Implications of the Use of Social Media Data in Business and Destination Analyses2015

    • Author(s)
      M. Cooper and K. Vafadari
    • Organizer
      t-FORUM 2015 Global Conference, Tourism Intelligence in Action
    • Place of Presentation
      Naples, Italy
    • Year and Date
      2015-05-05
    • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
  • [Book] Branding Iran: The geographic, conceptual and creative redefinition of the New Persia2017

    • Author(s)
      Cooper, M., and K. Vafadari
    • Total Pages
      174
    • Publisher
      CAB International, Oxford UK
  • [Book] Rivers and Society: Landscapes, Management and Livelihoods2016

    • Author(s)
      Cooper, M., A. Chakraborty (Eds)
    • Total Pages
      250
    • Publisher
      Earthscan (Elsevier), London, UK
  • [Book] Natural Heritage of Japan: Geological, Geomorphological, and Ecological Aspects2016

    • Author(s)
      Cooper, M., A. Chakraborty., S. Chakaraborty., K. Mokudai, and M. Watanabe (Eds)
    • Total Pages
      300
    • Publisher
      Springer Verlag, Berlin, Germany

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Published: 2017-01-06  

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