Greetings from Organizers

Thanks to the cooperation of many relevant organizations, including the Japan Ecotourism Society, the International Ecotourism Conference Okinawa, "Achieving the Regional Autonomous Development and the Preservation of Diversity through Ecotourism," will be launched.

Okinawa is one of the most prominent islands in Japan, located in the sub-tropical oceanic climate. Okinawa has numerous attractive features for tourists from the main island of Japan, such as a beautiful ocean, surrounding coral reefs and very precious fauna and flora. In addition, its indigenous culture established through the trade with China and southeastern countries is also another attractive factor to many visitors from the main island of Japan.

Our prefecture, using such indigenous culture and nature, has encouraged the spread of ecotourism much earlier than other regions in Japan. I hope that many participants will visit ecotourism sites in Okinawa and have an opportunity to talk with people in Okinawa during the conference.

I hope that this Okinawa conference, as the last event in Japan of the International Year of Ecotourism designated by the United Nations, will contribute to the further development of island ecotourism in the world and propose solution to the various types of issues.

First of all, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Ginowan City, Okinawa Prefecture, and many relevant organizations and companies who have made the International Ecotourism Conference Okinawa possible to implement.

The year 2002 is the International Year of Ecotourism (IYE) designated by the United Nations. Many events and conferences, therefore, have been held both domestically and internationally. Commemorating the IYE and closing the year of 2002, this Okinawa conference plays an important role in the development of ecotourism in Japan.

As an advanced ecotourism and island tourism destination in Japan, Okinawa provides a great number of marvelous ecotourism sites. Since many experts who play active roles in ecotourism have been invited, I expect that all the participants correctly understand what ecotourism is and that the conference contribute to the development of ecotourism in Japan.

I hope that during the conference all the participants will spend a memorable time in Okinawa surrounded by its beautiful ocean.