Management of land use in heritage tourism: Case study Mount Fuji (Japan) and Mount Merapi (Indonesia)

Tourism policies, more than environmental protection measures or population growth, drive forest loss in UNESCO World Heritage Sites. A comparative study of Mount Fuji (Japan) and Mount Merapi (Indonesia) reveals that while both sites employ zoning systems for land use management, Indonesia's fragmented governance—where different institutions oversee each zone—contrasts with Japan's integrated national park system. Despite these differences, tourism development consistently outpaces conservation efforts, often compelling governments to reform policies only under pressure from influential stakeholders like UNESCO. The research highlights that population growth alone does not determine land degradation; instead, poorly aligned tourism strategies accelerate deforestation rates.

Ajar, S. B. (2023). Management of land use in heritage tourism: Case study Mount Fuji (Japan) and Mount Merapi (Indonesia). Contaduría Y Administración, 69(3). https://doi.org/10.22201/fca.24488410e.2024.5006