Emerging Patterns of Mountain Tourism in a Dynamic Landscape: Insights from Kamikochi Valley in Japan
This article analyzes the emerging contours of mountain tourism in a highly popular destination in the North Japan Alps by reporting the findings of a two-year long study at the Kamikochi Valley. The main aim was to understand the dynamic character of the biophysical landscape and the perceptions of...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-03-01
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| Series: | Land |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/9/4/103 |
| _version_ | 1797626396381544448 |
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| author | Abhik Chakraborty |
| author_facet | Abhik Chakraborty |
| author_sort | Abhik Chakraborty |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article analyzes the emerging contours of mountain tourism in a highly popular destination in the North Japan Alps by reporting the findings of a two-year long study at the Kamikochi Valley. The main aim was to understand the dynamic character of the biophysical landscape and the perceptions of tourism service providers and visitors. The study was conducted using a qualitative design and involved in-depth interviews, observations, and a questionnaire survey for visitors. It was found that while different stakeholders held different perceptions of the landscape, there was a general lack of understanding among tourism service providers and visitors regarding the relationship between long-term processes and fine-scale heterogeneity of the landscape. The prevalence of an engineering approach has led to sweeping changes of key landscape interaction pathways over the years, threatening the heterogeneity and resilience of the natural environment. The findings also indicate a general visitor demand of information on the biophysical environment, and therefore it is of urgent need to address the biophysical integrity of such landscapes, and raise visitor awareness through the provision of relevant information. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T10:09:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6265b870434f4b379179342e1cd961c1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-445X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T10:09:50Z |
| publishDate | 2020-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Land |
| spelling | doaj.art-6265b870434f4b379179342e1cd961c12023-11-16T14:35:34ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2020-03-019410310.3390/land9040103Emerging Patterns of Mountain Tourism in a Dynamic Landscape: Insights from Kamikochi Valley in JapanAbhik Chakraborty0Faculty of Tourism, Wakayama University, Wakayama 640-8510, JapanThis article analyzes the emerging contours of mountain tourism in a highly popular destination in the North Japan Alps by reporting the findings of a two-year long study at the Kamikochi Valley. The main aim was to understand the dynamic character of the biophysical landscape and the perceptions of tourism service providers and visitors. The study was conducted using a qualitative design and involved in-depth interviews, observations, and a questionnaire survey for visitors. It was found that while different stakeholders held different perceptions of the landscape, there was a general lack of understanding among tourism service providers and visitors regarding the relationship between long-term processes and fine-scale heterogeneity of the landscape. The prevalence of an engineering approach has led to sweeping changes of key landscape interaction pathways over the years, threatening the heterogeneity and resilience of the natural environment. The findings also indicate a general visitor demand of information on the biophysical environment, and therefore it is of urgent need to address the biophysical integrity of such landscapes, and raise visitor awareness through the provision of relevant information.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/9/4/103mountain destinationdynamic landscapeheterogeneitygeological timeanthropogenic modificationNorth Japan Alps |
| spellingShingle | Abhik Chakraborty Emerging Patterns of Mountain Tourism in a Dynamic Landscape: Insights from Kamikochi Valley in Japan Land mountain destination dynamic landscape heterogeneity geological time anthropogenic modification North Japan Alps |
| title | Emerging Patterns of Mountain Tourism in a Dynamic Landscape: Insights from Kamikochi Valley in Japan |
| title_full | Emerging Patterns of Mountain Tourism in a Dynamic Landscape: Insights from Kamikochi Valley in Japan |
| title_fullStr | Emerging Patterns of Mountain Tourism in a Dynamic Landscape: Insights from Kamikochi Valley in Japan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Emerging Patterns of Mountain Tourism in a Dynamic Landscape: Insights from Kamikochi Valley in Japan |
| title_short | Emerging Patterns of Mountain Tourism in a Dynamic Landscape: Insights from Kamikochi Valley in Japan |
| title_sort | emerging patterns of mountain tourism in a dynamic landscape insights from kamikochi valley in japan |
| topic | mountain destination dynamic landscape heterogeneity geological time anthropogenic modification North Japan Alps |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/9/4/103 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT abhikchakraborty emergingpatternsofmountaintourisminadynamiclandscapeinsightsfromkamikochivalleyinjapan |