Community Tourism in Hagi Castle Town World Heritage Japan
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COMMUNITY TOURISM IN HAGI CASTLE TOWN WORLD HERITAGE JAPAN NMS Wijaya1*, GI Bhaskara2 , NPE Mahadewi3 , M Asamizu4 1Departement of Travel Studies, Faculty of Tourism Udayana University, Jl.Dr.Goris No.7 Denpasar, Indonesia *Corresponding author: [email protected] Abstract The local community plays a key role on tourism development and with rapid growth of tourists brings benefits to the heritage owner and other stakeholder, however it can also change the nature and universal value of the heritage. The study aim is to investigate the role of local community in protected site Hagi Castle Town World Heritage. In conservation of the properties and the Buffer Zones in Hagi Castle Town, it is necessary for related organizations, owner and manager to properly recognize the value of the heritage in each phase of conservation a management activities and to perform their duties. For that purpose, providing opportunities for training of stakeholders in order to share the recognition regarding the value and conservation of the Properties and to enhance the monitoring system shall make an improvement in conservation management ability. However, there are few people in the local community and tourists who precisely understand the value of the Hagi Castle Town as part of the larger group of heritage sites and their collective value. As a result, a guidance facility was opened to interpret these sites for the local people and tourists, where people are trained to be guides for the heritage sites and informational pamphlets are made. The opinions of the local people are reflected in the Hagi Conservation Council. Furthermore, the local people actively carry out activities such as cleaning of the heritage areas and holding event. Keywords: conservation, Hagi, community tourism, world heritage site BACKGROUND In tourism, cultural heritage is a main of tourist attraction, due to universal value and international significance for conservation. Several studies have previously focused on the various changes since World Heritage Site (WHS) designation at WHSs all over the world, primarily focusing on tourists, tourism development, stakeholder perceptions and involvement and visitor management (Aas et al. 2005; Phaswana-Mafuya and Haydam 2005; Shackley 2006; Kim et al. 2007; Ying and Zhou 2007). Visitor numbers and flows should be managed, regulated and reduced where suitable, both for conservation reasons and with the intention of enhancing the visitor experience (Shackley 1998). Timothy and Nyaupane (2009) stated that visits to cultural and historical resources have become one of the largest and fastest growing sectors of the tourism industry. Regarding to Drost, (1996); Li, Wu and Cai, (2008) monuments, areas, or natural landscapes, being designated as a World Heritage Site (WHS) is a privilege since the international visibility of the site as a tourism attraction will likely increase through the promotional and informational activities conducted by the government, tourism industry players and the World Heritage Committee. When such historic towns or areas are designated with the status of World Heritage Site (WHS), it is expected to bring benefit along with the arrivals of the tourists in 1 terms of different aspects such as support for heritage conservation and economic development of the community living in and around the area of WHS (Maharjan, 2012). Cultural Properties in Japan are preserved and utilized under the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties, as well as the cultural properties protection ordinance of each local government, in order to contribute to the advancement of national and world culture. In this way, each tangible and intangible heritage is protected under appropriate protection measures to each category. In order to protect the rich nature and biological diversity of our land, the Nature Conservation Law and the Natural Parks Law have been enacted. In addition, cultural properties and nature are getting more accessible to people, through local activities of volunteers and NPO’s, and the interest in conservation activities is growing. Charles and Samples (2004) posited community as a dynamic set of relationships in which a synergic, self-regulating whole is created out of the combination of individual parts into an interconnected, identifiable, cohesive form. However, they also argue that, in order to exist, a community requires participation and commitment and a perception of belonging and a sense of identity. Tourism in the historic center depends on the public services provided, so it is regrettable that in some cities there is a low political priority in terms of funding and innovative regulation in this area. can find direct benefit in cases where the private sector is involved in conserving historic buildings for a tourism-related business (restaurants and hotels). Likewise, in this section we obtained information to know mechanisms or instruments to channel resources from tourism to heritage conservation. If the outstanding values that allowed a site to obtain the category of world heritage must be kept accessible for present and future generations, the administration of tourism in these sites must be a matter of utmost importance (Garrod & Fyall, 20001; Pedersen, 20022), which is why the relevance of this section in the study. MATERIALS AND METHODS This sub material will present the methodological framework that guided the research and the qualitative approaches that were utilized. Michael Patton (2002) has written that qualitative findings evolve from three types of data collection, including in-depth open- ended interviews, direct observation, and written documents. The research primarily focused to investigate the implementation of management system in Hagi Castle town by use in-depth interview analysis, open-ended e-mail interviews, and Internet research (including various UNESCO World Heritage Convention databases). The in-depth interview analysis approach was applicable for examining outcomes the research showed that institutions and policy in heritage site that have been institutionalized in Hagi becomes a guideline of implementation tourism in conserve the heritage site. RESULTS This results identified the first year research, analyzing the primary data in research site was selected in Hagi Castle Town world heritage, Japan. Hagi city ( 萩市—Hagi shi) is located in the north of Yamaguchi Prefecture, on the sea of Japan. The city has estimated population of 50,179 and the total area is 698,86 km². One of the best places to visit in Hagi is its beautifully preserved castle town area. This place known with former samurai residences and merchant houses standing as they have for centuries, and white walls from the feudal era still lining the quiet roads. Edo Period (1603-1868), Hagi was a bustling town, with samurai, craftsmen and merchants living in the area, and the roads and town plan remain identical to how it was when the powerful Mori Clan ruled it so many centuries ago. Hagi Castle (1) was originally built on Mt. Shizuki and its foothills, and 2 while none of the original buildings survive, the stone walls and moats are still virtually intact. Across virtually the entire residential blocks of District of the Upper Class Samurai (2), the sprawling those blocks belonging to Hagi (Choshu) Clan senior vassals have been converted to modern housing along with the mandarin orchards reclaimed to provide livelihoods for former samurai families after the Meiji Restoration, but generally remain in good condition, while the mud and stone walls dividing the residential blocks have been maintained through to the present day. Residential blocks of District of the Merchant Class (3) was where the properties of government- patronized merchants and middle- and lower- class samurai were located, and the townscape of samurai’s residential compounds and merchant houses remains in good condition. Along with the other four component parts of Area 1 Hagi, Hagi Castle Town is a component part embodying an entire local community during the challenge phase of trial and error in the iron and steel manufacturing and ship- building fields. Conservation, restoration, presentation and public utilization will be pursued based on the process of historical changes and developments of the area starting in 1604 when construction began and continuing through to the present with the town integrated into modern life.The important buildings of Hagi Castle Town are Kuchiba Family Residence, Old Residence of Takayoshi Kido, Old Residence of Shusuke Aoki and Kikuya Family Residence. These properties are opening for public. During the daytime, visitor can see the inside the buildings. Stakeholders in Heritage Areas; Evans (2005) discusses the gap in involvement between large private investors to governments and local communities and concludes there is a ‘lack of genuine local community and cultural involvement in heritage site management’. He acknowledges the need for collaboration between all key stakeholders in heritage management. Evans also acknowledges there needs to be an inclusion of those displaced and disempowered. Without these important stakeholders, the site becomes void of the heritage itself, the heritage that is being preserved in the first place. Evans’ study demonstrates the linkage between heritage and tourism development through stakeholder collaboration. Without the appropriate involvement of those important participants, there is going to be conflict and complication within any management plan. DISCUSSIONS Role of