Sustainable Tourism (Sustainable Tourism)

Niseko Town has formulated a vision for promoting tourism and has set a future vision of becoming "a sustainable international resort that is trusted by residents and tourists alike."
In order to make Niseko Town "good place to live" and "good place to visit," we are taking on various initiatives within the town, and together with the local community, including the townspeople, we aim to create a sustainable tourist destination.

Below are some of the initiatives related to sustainable tourism:

A sustainable tourism project led by the residents of Niseko Town has begun.
The NIS-ECO Project held a tree planting experience with participants as part of the "Niseko Sustainability Experience."
NIS-ECO project homepage

[Official] Hokkaido Niseko Town note
The start of a sustainable project "NIS-ECO" in which volunteers collaborated in Niseko Town, Hokkaido
[Niseko High School x Shinagawa Girls' Academy] High school students plan sustainable travel products

Niseko High School students also picked up trash at the ski resort as a first step in thinking about volunteer tourism.
[Official] Hokkaido Niseko High School note
Sustainable Tourism Education ~ Volunteer Tourism ~

We held an official GSTC training session to learn about sustainable tourism and how it can be put into practice.

2021 GSTC Official Training

2022 GSTC Official Training

 

In addition, the following initiatives in Niseko Town are also related to sustainable tourism:

・Climate change countermeasures
・Landscape creation and regional environmental policies (Niseko Town Landscape Ordinance, etc.)
・Decarbonization action plan
・Tourist Cafe
・Niseko High School Tourism Education
・City Planning and Citizen Lectures
No. 205 ~ Aiming for a sustainable tourist destination ~
223rd "GSTC Certification and Niseko Town Tourism"

The January 2023 issue Koho Niseko Newsletter also has a feature on sustainable tourism on pages 3 and 4.
Koho Niseko Newsletter January 2023 issue
 

持続可能な観光の国際機関「グリーン・デスティネイションズ」 (オランダ) による、世界の持続可能 (サステナブル) な観光地のTOP100選を3度受賞しました。
2020 Awards: "Niseko Rules"(English)
2021 Award Winner: "Tackling Climate Change at Ski Resorts"(English)
2025年の受賞内容　「学びが人を育て、人が地域を育てる：観光教育が生む人材の持続可能性」

Today, one in ten people in the world is involved in tourism. Green Destinations is an international organization (non-profit organization) that supports and encourages efforts to improve the impact of tourism on the region in the fields of "culture, society, economy and environment".

About Green Destinations

2025年　受賞ストーリー：「学びが人を育て、人が地域を育てる　北海道ニセコ町・観光教育が生む人材の持続可能性」
今回評価されたのは、ニセコ高校と地域社会が一体となって次世代の担い手を育てる観光教育プログラムです。
 
背景にあった課題
 
世界的なスノーリゾートとして発展を遂げるニセコ町ですが、その裏側では、観光が地域住民、特に若者にとって「自分ごと」になりにくいという課題を抱えていました。素晴らしい自然や文化がありながらも、多くの若者がその価値に気づかないまま、進学や就職を機に地域を離れてしまう状況がありました。
 
未来を育む解決策
 
そこでニセコ町では、町立高校であるニセコ高校と連携し、「観光」をテーマとした探究型の教育をスタートさせました。この取り組みの核心は、サステナビリティコーディネーターの協力のもと、持続可能な観光の国際基準（GSTC）を学びの軸に据えたことです。生徒たちは、世界共通の物差しで自分たちの地域を見つめ直すことで、これまで見過ごしてきた地域の魅力や課題を再発見しました。
教室での学びにとどまらず、生徒たちは実際に町へ出て、E-Bike（電動アシスト自転車）を活用した周遊ツアーや、地域の課題解決につながるサステナブルな観光ツアーを自ら企画。地域住民や事業者と対話を重ね、他地域の事例を視察するなど、実践的な活動を通じて「地域の未来を担う当事者」として大きく成長しています。
 
生まれた成果とこれからのニセコ
 
この取り組みを通じて、生徒たちには確かな変化が生まれています。アンケートでは「自分の地域が観光で元気になるために、自分にできることを考えたい」と回答した生徒の割合が47%から87%へと大幅に向上しました。
生徒が企画したツアーは実際に商品化され、多くの観光客に利用されるなど、具体的な成果にもつながっています。卒業生の中には、この学びを活かして地元で就職する生徒も現れ始めています。
この教育と地域が連携するモデルは、生徒の郷土愛（シビックプライド）を育むだけでなく、地域全体の未来を創造する原動力となっています。ニセコ町はこれからも「Green Destinations」のコミュニティの一員として、世界中のデスティネーションと知見を共有し、観光を通じて「人を育て、地域を育てる」持続可能なまちづくりを進めてまいります。
 

Since winning the TOP 100 award, the city has grown even further, and in 2023 it was reviewed by Green Destinations, where its various initiatives were comprehensively evaluated and it was awarded the Silver Award.
In particular, Niseko Town 's environmental initiatives (such as Landscape Ordinance and waste recycling) received high praise.
 
About the Green Destinations Silver Award

Global Green Destinations Days 2021
Niseko Town hosts the second day of the annual four-day international tourism event "Global Green Destinations Days 2021" hosted by Green Destinations, an international organization for sustainable tourism. We presented a case study of Niseko Rule initiatives.

Event Day 2: Niseko Town Host and Case Study (YouTube)

Meet the Hosts of GGDD 2021
Niseko Town participated in the "Climate Change Countermeasures in Tourist Destinations" symposium sponsored by Green Destinations. The five pillars of the Glasgow Declaration (measurement, decarbonization, regeneration, cooperation, and finance) in Niseko Town tourism are being moderated by Mr. Jeremy Smith, the drafter of the Glasgow Declaration. Was discussed.

Meet the Host (YouTube)

At the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) General Assembly, 44 "Best Tourism Villages (BTVs)" were announced from 75 member countries and 174 regions. From Japan, Niseko Town, Hokkaido and Miyama Town, Nantan City, Kyoto Prefecture were selected.

BTV is an UNWTO initiative to find areas that leverage the strengths of tourism to implement tourism projects in new ways, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The selected areas (including Niseko Town) were evaluated by the BTV advisory body based on the following nine evaluation areas (44 selected areas received a total of 80 points or more out of 100 points). ..

・ Culture / natural resources
・ Promotion and conservation of cultural resources
・ Sustainability in the economic field
・ Sustainability in the social field
・ Sustainability in the environmental field
・ Potential and development of tourism ・ Strengthening the value chain
・ Governance in the tourism sector
・ Access infrastructure
・ Public health, security and safety

Certification as "UNWTO Best Tourism Village":
This certification has a well-known culture and natural resources, preserves and promotes values, products and lifestyles rooted in the local community, and in all aspects of the economy, society and environment. It is recognized as an outstanding example in the region, including a clear commitment to innovation and sustainability.
 

On November 4, 2021, the Glasgow Declaration on Tourism Climate Change Countermeasures was announced at the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Climate Change Framework Convention (COP26).

The Declaration states that the tourism sector will accelerate climate change measures in the tourism sector, halve carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the tourism sector over the next decade, and achieve "net zero emissions" by 2050. The purpose is to commit to the powerful actions of.

Niseko Town is the only original signatory among Japanese municipalities.

Glasgow Declaration in Tourism
About the Glasgow Declaration

What is the Japan Tourism Agency Commissioner's Award?

The award recognizes individuals and groups who have contributed to the promotion and development of tourism, including creating attractive tourist destinations and promoting their appeal.
 

< Niseko Town >

We formulated a vision for tourism promotion Niseko Town with the aim of creating a sustainable tourist destination. The local community worked together to promote this vision through questionnaire surveys, SDGs training, symposiums, and other means. We also carried out initiatives in line with international standards by employing a "sustainability coordinator." We also created assessments, proposed improvements, and disseminated information.
In recognition of these efforts, Niseko Town has been selected as the recipient of the 14th Japan Tourism Agency Commissioner's Award (2022).