A research paper on industry-academia collaboration between Hokkaido University Graduate School of Environmental Science and Hoshino Resorts (Karuizawa Town, Nagano Prefecture, President Yoshiharu Hoshino) was published in the electronic version of the English tourism journal "Journal of Sustainable Tour Rhythm".It is a rare success example of large-scale industry-academia collaboration, and is evaluated as an activity that shows the possibility of sustainable tourism.
The authors of the dissertation are Yukari Higuchi of the Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University and Professor Yasuhiro Yamanaka of the Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University.It reports in detail the industry-academia collaboration so far.
According to Hokkaido University, the Graduate School of Environmental Science and "Hoshino Resort Tomamu" in Shimukappu Village, Hokkaido, which is run by Hoshino Resorts, agreed on industry-academia collaboration in 2011, and have been promoting community development that balances environmental protection and tourism.
In 2012, the Graduate School of Environmental Science set up an observatory on the summit of Mt. Tomamu, investigated the mechanism of the sea of clouds, and jointly developed an experiential tourism program called "School of Clouds" and "Sea of Clouds Guided Tour" with Hoshino Resorts.
In addition, we have opened a "river school" and a "snow school" for local elementary school students to improve their value as tourism resources and promote environmental education.This led to an industry-academia-government tripartite collaboration with Shimukappu Village, which hopes to collaborate in the field of education.
The United Nations has designated 2017 as the "International Year of Sustainable Tourism."Hokkaido University and Hoshino Resorts will expand their activities beyond Shimukappu Village and seek sustainable tourism.
