Schedule

Day 1   Thursday, November 28, 2002

09:30      APO Special Seminar "Green Productivity and Ecotourism"

Coordinator: Arturo Alejandrino 

11:00      Registration

13:00      Opening Ceremony

13:30      Welcome Remarks &
      Introduction of the Conference Objectives and Strategies

Mr. Kazuo Aichi, President,
Japan Ecotourism Society (JES)   

14:00  Keynote Speech
"Current Environment of Ecotourism in Island Regions in the World"

Focus will be on the current issues and perspectives involved in the ecotourism practices in the various island regions in the World.

Mr. David Andersen, Architect,
The Andersen Group Architects Ltd., USA

15:00      Tea Break

15:15      Report on Case Studies

"Economic Development of Local Area Through Ecotourism"

As an opening session of the conference, various case studies will be introduced and reviewed from the viewpoint of the economic returns of ecotourism.

Coordinator:

Mr. Hiroyasu Sato,
Asst. Prof. Shizuoka Seika College

Presenters:
        
Ms. Lisa Choegyal, Tourism Resource Consultant, Nepal        


Ms. Emele Duituturaga, Regional Planning Consultant,
    Fiji
Dr. Moritake Tomikawa, Prof. Okinawa International University
and others

18:30      Welcome Reception

Day 2   Friday, November 29

09:00       Panel Discussion

"Improving the Local Economy Through Ecotourism and Green Productivity"

This session will discuss how we could improve the local economies through Ecotourism and Green Productivity.

Coordinator:
Dr. Shuzo Ishimori,
Prof. National  Museum of Ethnology

Presenters:
Mr. Masayuki Noha, President,
   Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau
Mr. Augustine Koh, Director,
   Environment Development Asian Productivity Organization
Mr. Manabu Koga,Research Department Director,
   Japan Tourism Associaton 

11:30      Ecotour site inspection -Nothern parts of Okinawa-

18:00      Exchange program with locals

Day 3    Saturday, November 30   

Six workshops will be organized, specializing in two major objectives, over two days:
       A - Economic Promotion
       B - Preservation of Diversity/Uniqueness

09:00 Workshops A-1  "Ecotour Products, Distribution and Sales Promotion"

Sponsored by Japan Association of Travel Agents - Ecotour marketing and its promotion.

Moderator:

Mr. Hidetoshi Kobayashi, Tourism Marketing Director,
Japan Travel Bureau Foundation

Commentator:

Mr. Anthony Wong,Managing Director,
   Asian Overland Services Tours & Travel Group,
   Malaysia

Speakers:

Ms. Lisa Choegyal, Tourism Resource Consultant,
    Nepal
Mr. Yoshikazu Higashi, Vice President,
   Okinawa Tourist Service
Mr. Yuji Hara, Managing Director,
   Kaze Travel Co., Ltd. 

Workshop B-1(*) "Guide Training and Guideline Development"

Discussion on how we are able to encourage and promote the local resident participation in ecotourism activities and, in doing so, how we are able to maintain the sustainable utilization of tour sites.

Moderator:      

Mr. Kuniharu Miyagi, Prof.
Okinawa International University

Speakers:

Dr. Thomas Bauer PhD., Hong Kong Polytechnic University,
   Hong Kong
Mr. Toshimichi Hirose, Representative,
   Whole Earth Nature School
Mr. Tatsuro Nakai, Director of Educational and Communication,
   Nature Conservation Society of Japan
Dr. Yugo Ono, Prof. Hokkaido University

12:00     Lunch Break

13:30      Workshop A-2 "New Applications and Practices of Ecotourism "

Various methods of utilizing ecotours, for example, environmental education program for school children or leader training of a company and new market development will be discussed.

Moderator:      

Mr. Yoichiro Takanashi,
President, Tourism World Inc.

Speakers:

Mr. Toshimichi Hirose, Representative,
   Whole Earth Nature School
Mr. Anthony Wong,Managing Director,
   Asian Overland Services Tours & Travel Group,
   Malaysia
Mr. Toshiyuki Obonai, Chief Machizukuri Division
   Ninohe City, Iwate Prefecture
and others

Workshop B-2(*) "Ecotour Site Management-Zoning, Licensing and the Role of Administration"

Discussion will be on administrative leadership and managerial skills required to manage and run ecotour sites, and a system in which people from various areas can participate in regional development. 

Moderator:      

Dr. Akio Maita,
Prof. Kyoto Saga University of Arts

Speakers:

Mr. Raymond Tabata, Past President,
   Hawaii Ecotourism Association
Dr. Thomas Bauer, Hong Kong Polytechnic University,
   Hong Kong
and others

16:45  Special Program

Presentation and Discussion by ecotour operators in Okinawa on the problems which they are now confronting.

Day 4   Sunday, December 1

09:00      Workshop A-3 "Ecotourism as a Tool for the Regional Vitalization and the Role of Administration"

By defining to what level ecotourism would be able to contribute to the local areas vitalization, discussion will focus on how to encourage the resident' participation and the desirable role of local administration.

Moderator:      

Mr. Chiaki Shimoyasuba,
Associate Professor Osaka University of Arts.

Speakers:

Ms. Emele Duitotoraga, Area Development Consultant,
   Fiji
Mr. Masakatsu Suzuki, Technical Councilor Department of Planning,
   Shizuoka Prefectural Government
Mr. Mitsuo Nakamura, Village Mayor,
   Zamami Village
Mr. Arturo Alejandrino, Executive Director, Aklan Tourism Task Force,
   Phlilippines


       

Workshop B-3(*) "Preservation and Utilization of Resources in Ecotourism Development"

-Preservation of Local Diversity-

Focus will be made on the preservation and utilization of local resources such as Nature, History and Culture in the regions where ecotourism is practiced.

Moderator:      

Mr. Noriaki Nishiyama, 
Prof. Kyushu Institute of Design

Speakers:


Mr. Kinsei Ishigaki, President,
   Iriomote Island Ecotourism Association
and others  

12:00   Lunch Break

13:30   Symposium - Reports and Summarization of the Conference       

In this final session we will search for the future role of the tourism industry, which would transform the local nature and cultural resources into highly valued economic commodities and also promote, as a catalyst, sustainable tourism development in the region.

Moderator:

Mr.Ryuji Funayama, 
Chairman, JTB Corp.

Speakers:

Mr.Morio Ginama, Director General, Tourism & Resort Bureau
   Okinawa Prefectural Goverment
Mr. Anthony Wong, Managing Director,
   Asian Overland Service Tours & Travel Group,
   Malaysia
Mr. Jun Ishiyama, Director & Secretary-General
   Japan Association of Travel Agents

16:35   Declaration of Okinawa's Commitment

"A Message for the Future"

Recommendations adopted by the conference will be sent as theOkinawa Declaration to the World.

Mr .Keiichi Inamine,
        Governor of Okinawa Prefecture 

16:45  Closing Ceremony

Day 5 Monday, December 2 (Optional)

 Excursion :  Iriomote Island and other islands

(Note)Breakout sessions (B-1,2,3) are supported by the Japan Fund for Global Environment of Japan Environment Corporation.