Abstract
Both China and Japan have achieved considerable development of geoparks. This paper introduces the current status of geoparks and develops a comparative analysis of the legal system, management structure, and financial support of The United National Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Global Geoparks (UGGps) in China and Japan. Because of the differences between these two countries, this paper employs an analysis framework and typical cases to study the characteristics of UGGps from the perspective of infrastructure, community, conservation and protection, science popularization, and geotourism based on the abovementioned fundamental aims. Further suggestions are proposed, i.e., China must strengthen community participation, develop all-around geoproducts, and consider the negative impact of tourism, while Japan must obtain more financial support, motivate participation and protection, and develop various activities to promote employment and population growth.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abdelati MB, Bill B (2015) Tourism product development and product diversification in destinations Tourism Management 50
Abhik C, Malcolm C, Shamik C (2015) Geosystems as a framework for geoconservation: the case of Japan's Izu Peninsula Geopark Geoheritage 7
Dowling R, Newsome D (2006) Chapter 13 Geotourism's issues and challenges Geotourism:242–254
Eder FW, Patzak M (2004) Geoparksgeological attractions: a tool for public education, recreation and sustainable economic development Episodes: Journal of International Geoscience
Farsani NT, Coelho C, Costa C (2011) Geotourism and Geoparks as Novel Strategies for Socio-Economic Development in Rural Areas. Int J Tour Res 13:68–81. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.800
Hose TA (2012) 3G's for modern geotourism Geoheritage:7–24
Hose TA, Markovi SB, Komac B, Zorn M (2011) Geotourism a short introduction Acta Geographica Slovenica:339–342
Jianfeng Y (2008) Material flow analysis from and to its geo-environment for the national economy in china Journal of Natural Resoures
Jianping Z (2020) Interpretation of the Criteria of UNESCO Global Geopark. Geol Rev 66:874–880
Jigang B, Jiuxia S (2006) A contrastive study on the difference in community participation in tourism between China and the west Acta Geographica Sinica:401–413
Jinwei W, Li Z, Feng Y (2019) Japan's tourism economy development and tourism policy trend: a review based on Japanese Tourism White Book Japan Studies:54–60
Jones TA, Ohsawa TB (2016) Monitoring nature-based tourism trends in Japans national parks: mixed messages from domestic and inbound visitors(Article) Parks:25–36
Koizumi T, Chakraborty A (2016) Geoecotourism and environmental conservation education: insights from Japan GeoJournal:737–750
Kun X, Siyao Z (2018) Development and problems of Japanese geological tourism: a case study of Itoigawa Geopark, Niigata Prefecture Journal of Hebei GEO University:43–48
Lauren N, Dale S, Ross D (2014) Geotourism product development and stakeholder perceptions: a case study of a proposed geotrail in Perth, Western Australia Journal of Ecotourism 13
Lisa H (2006) Community-based tourism: a pathway to sustainability for Japan's protected areas Society & Natural Resources 19
Sakanishi A (2015) Regional differences in female labor force participation in Japan International Journal of Economic Policy Studies:13–28
Suzuki DA, Takagi H (2018) Evaluation of geosite for sustainable planning and management in geotourism Geoheritage:123–135
Takayuki A (2016) Overview: the educational capabilities of geoparks: from education to learning Takayuki ARIMA 125
Tsuyoshi I, Yousuke I, Atsushi M (2017) Outline and history of the Itoigawa UNESCO Global Geopark in Niigata Prefecture in central Japan, with radiolarian occurrences in Itoigawa Science reports of Niigata University (Geology):71–90
UNESCO Global Geoparks. http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/earth-sciences/unescoglobal-geoparks/. Accessed 15 Mar 2019
Watanabe M (2018) The origin and development of geoparks in Japan: reflections from a personal perspective Natural Heritage of Japan:87–94
Woodward SC (2017) Strategies for sustainable tourism at the Mogao Grottoes of Dunhuang, China Conservation and Management of Archaeological Sites 19:150–152 https://doi.org/10.1080/13505033.2017.1321369
Xiaodong G, Takahashi G (2018) The Analysis of Barrier Free Environment Construction Idea and Promotion Mechanism in Japan. J Beijing Inst Technol (Soc Sci Ed) 20:168–172
Xun Z, Milly W (2002) National geoparks initiated in China: putting geoscience in the service of society EPISODES:33–37
Yasuda M, Muramoto T, Nouchi R (2018) Assessment of educational methods for improving children s awareness of tsunamis and other natural disasters: focusing on changes in awareness and regional characteristics in Japan (Article) Geosciences (Switzerland)
Yuelong W, Shuwen L, Weihai C, Zhihong O, Qukan L, Chengzhan l (2018) Characteristics and formation and evolution analysis of the dolomite karst landscape of Suiyang Geopark, Guizhou Province(Article) Acta Geoscientica Sinica:365–383
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to Yuanyuan Zheng from the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences for providing constructive comments and aiding in the revision of the initial draft.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cai, Y., Wu, F., Watanabe, M. et al. Characteristics of Geoparks in China and Japan: Similarities and Differences. Geoheritage 13, 101 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-021-00628-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-021-00628-x