Experiences in developing sustainable tourism in Yufuin

On August 20, 2012, Professor Seiji Yoneda (Ehime University - Japan) gave a presentation and shared experiences on sustainable community tourism development with lecturers, students, and trainees of the Faculty of Tourism Studies - University of Social Sciences and Humanities, and representatives of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism. Associate Professor Tran Thi Minh Hoa - Vice Rector of the University - received Professor Seiji Yoneda and attended the presentation.Professor Seiji Yoneda shared his experience on developing sustainable community tourism through practical research in the Yufuin region of Japan. He stated that in Japan, the most important aspect of the relationship between regional development and sustainable community tourism development is based on community awareness. He also pointed out a two-way approach to tourism: that of tourists and the local communities receiving them. The sustainable community tourism development model in Yufuin follows a method currently widely used in Japan: the local community itself proposes and implements the sustainable tourism development model. This differs from the tourism development model of Japan 10 years ago, where the central government issued the plan and the local authorities implemented it. Professor Yoneda's research... According to Seiji Yoneda, the Yufuin region of Japan receives approximately 3.8 million tourists annually, including about 900,000 overnight visitors, with 70% being repeat visitors and nearly 10% visiting more than ten times. Thanks to several community-based tourism activities, Yufuin has attracted tourists, such as the Yufuin Film Festival, a singing competition held in the autumn, the restoration and development of traditional crafts, and Yufuin-branded souvenirs – products closely linked to daily life. A particularly noteworthy point is that local people, even children, are directly trained to become tour guides. Through his research on the sustainable tourism development model in Yufuin, Professor Seiji Yoneda pointed out key lessons learned regarding sustainable community tourism development: excessive expansion is necessary, along with certain controls. The presentation highlighted that resources that local communities consider ordinary actually possess the potential for sustainable tourism development; community awareness is crucial for sustainable tourism development; and the spirit of cooperation among individuals within the community is essential. Concluding the presentation, Professor Seiji Yoneda emphasized that sustainable community tourism development should aim to create a situation where "travelers feel like they are at home, and conversely, the local community feels like they are on vacation." Vice Rector Tran Thi Minh Hoa thanked Professor Seiji Yoneda for sharing valuable and insightful experiences on sustainable community tourism development. She stressed that these lessons are essential for the development of community tourism in Vietnam and expressed hope that in the future, both sides will move towards more comprehensive cooperation in this research area.