Tourism and sustainability at a crossroads in Shiretoko UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in Japan

Shiretoko Peninsula, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in Japan, faces significant sustainability challenges due to increasing tourism pressures. The study identifies critical issues such as low stakeholder awareness of environmental changes, fragmentation of ecosystems, and the emergence of wildlife ocular consumption as novel stressors. It also highlights gaps in science communication among guides, inadequate legal protection for endangered species, and a lack of multilingual skills, which exacerbate the site's vulnerabilities. The research, based on visitor surveys, stakeholder interviews, and participant observation, underscores the need for a holistic approach to heritage management that fosters open dialogue between ecological experts, managers, locals, and tourists to address these complex challenges effectively.

Chakraborty, A., & Takenaka, T. (2023). Tourism and sustainability at a crossroads in Shiretoko UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in Japan. Journal of Heritage Tourism, 18(2), 202–223. https://doi.org/10.1080/1743873x.2023.2169614