Page 190 - Volcano and Geothermal Tourism

Volcano and Geothermal Tourism in Japan – Examples from Honshu and Hokkaido 167

will be broadcast as: Tsunami wa totemo takai nami experience a record ten landed typhoons in 2004,
desu. Umi no chikaku wa abunai desu (‘Tsunamis are breaking the earlier record of six, plus a series of
very high waves. It is dangerous near the sea’). And strong earthquakes, prompting Salvano Briceno,
instead of hinansho (shelter), the term nigeru basho Director of the International Strategy for Disaster
(place to flee to) will be used. Why national and Reduction (ISDR) to make the following
local authorities cannot provide translations of statement: ‘The tragic series of natural hazards that
disaster warning and advice documentation in all has recently hit Japan reminds us that all countries,
the main languages currently used in Japan as a rich or poor, are subject to increasing threats from
matter of course (or even in Japanese and English social vulnerability and natural hazards’ (UNISDR,
as is now standard on most public transport) 2004). The impact on tourists is less easy to
remains a mystery, nevertheless attempts have been ascertain, though they do not appear to be overly
made in some areas by providing English and concerned with the implications of such reports as
Korean translations for hazard maps and local Megacities–Megarisks published in January 2005
information brochures. (Munich Re Group, 2005), in which the Tokyo–
Yokohama conurbation is calculated to have a
Conclusions natural hazards risk index rating of 710 (including
The consensus in the academic literature is that it an eruption of Mt Fuji), away ahead of the next
is difficult to predict the likely impact of natural most vulnerable large cities, San Francisco (167),
disasters on tourism, as tourists go by sentiment as Los Angeles (100) and Kobe–Osaka–Kyoto (92). A
much as by perceived realities (Drabek, 1992, score of this magnitude is a reflection of when, not
1994). If a tourist likes a destination then it is if, a natural disaster will occur in the Tokyo
entirely possible that he or she will discount the Metropolitan Area, but again it is not as real a
potential for natural disasters to affect travel to it measure of impact to the tourist as the prices they
(Cooper, 2005). Conversely, if not, then the may have to pay for goods and services in Tokyo
potential for disasters could assume a higher order and/or in Japan as a whole, and therefore does not
of negative importance for the tourist than is influence travel decision making quite as directly
warranted by actual experience (Carter, 1998). For as the cost of travel itself (Santana, 2004).
a destination it is of course possible to exercise a On the other hand the attraction of volcanoes
considerable degree of hindsight in describing the in Japan for tourists can be appreciated from the
actual impact of any disasters that have occurred fact that they are major elements in 18 of Japan’s
there in the past, and also to overemphasize 28 national parks. Many popular ski parks utilize
preparedness for the next disaster. Nevertheless, for the slopes of volcanoes. Furthermore, volcanoes
any destination, even if natural hazards cannot be provide spring water at the foot of the mountains.
avoided their dramatic consequences can be The last major eruptions of volcanoes in Hokkaido
reduced through appropriate preparations and risk or Honshu were in 1986 (Uzu-Oshima) and in
reduction measures (Cassedy, 1991). In this regard, 2000 (Usu lava dome – no casualties, 234 houses
as an offset to such measures of vulnerability the destroyed), while the most dangerous were in
Japanese volcanic eruption, earthquake, typhoon Kyushu in 1991–1995 (Mt Unzen – pyroclastic
and tsunami observation and defence networks flows killed 43 people), and offshore on Miyakejima
have been considerably upgraded over the last from 2000 (gas emissions resulted in the evacuation
decade. There is no doubt that the country is one of all residents). Although volcanic activities
of the safest to be in during a major disaster in themselves are natural phenomena, they cause
terms of its readiness and ability to respond to such disasters and damage both to human life and
events, but the fact that typhoons, earthquakes and industrial activities. The first step in developing
volcanism still manage to impact on the country disaster prevention measures starts from fully
and on its tourism just indicates how difficult it is understanding volcanoes. It is then necessary for
to guard against all possible eventualities. individuals, experts, communities, governing
While Japan has not suffered many major bodies and nations to take measures from each of
eruptions in recent years the country did their respective standpoints to reduce those impacts

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