Sado Island Unites for World Heritage Registration; Speakers, Locals Discuss Benefits at Symposium
16:51 JST, January 3, 2024
SADO, Niigata — In a bid to have Sado Island Gold Mine inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site next year, the Sado city government held a symposium on Dec. 16 to unite islanders towards the goal.
At the symposium held in Sado, Niigata Prefecture, about 150 residents listened to the challenges posed by the rapid increase in tourists and other issues.
A keynote speech was made by Ken Iwakawa, the section chief of the tourism and town development division at Yakushima town, Kagoshima Prefecture, which is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the registration of Yakushima island as a World Heritage site.
He said that his island — which has a population of about 11,000 — had been flooded by up to around 400,000 tourists, causing environmental destruction due to a lack of restrooms and parking. The town then took measures such as creating local rules to preserve the island’s nature.
Talking about the benefits of registration, Iwakawa said, “A World Heritage inscription will gain publicity and heighten the pride of local residents.”
The speech was followed by a panel discussion, involving the speakers as well as hotel owners and farmers who shared their hopes for registration.
Students of a local high school expressed their commitment to supporting the registration, with one of them saying, “I hope that the registration will make the young people of Sado Island proud of where they live.”
"Features" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
Liven Up the Dinner Table With Homemade Ham
-
Diamond Fuji Observed in Shizuoka Pref., Attracting Photographers
-
Vows to be ‘Ambitious’ at Hokkaido Statue Hit 100,000; Famous Quote Attributed to Sapporo Agricultural College Professor Clark Lives On
-
Okayama: Distinctive Coworking Space Supervised by Architect Kengo Kuma Opens
-
Asakusa Underground Shopping Street the Japan’s Oldest Underground Mall
JN ACCESS RANKING
- Weakening Yen Adds Complexity to BOJ’s Rate Hike Decisions; Rising Commodity Prices may Impact ‘Virtuous Cycle’ Efforts
- 70% of Japan Companies to Raise Pay Scales in FY 2024
- Core Consumer Prices Rise 2.8% in Fiscal 2023
- China Mutes Memorialization of Reformer Hu Yaobang; Memories Could Spark Critique of Xi Administration
- U.S. 7th Fleet officer Arrested on Suspicion of Stealing Sushi, Sashimi, Chicken at Kanagawa Shopping Mall; Suspect Caught Mid-Meal