[M-IS02] Conservation of geoparks, natural geosites and cultural heritage: weathering process and damage assessment

[MIS02-P03] How to increase visitor attraction to geoheritage

*Chiaki T. Oguchi¹ (1.Institute for Environmental Science and Technology, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University)

Keywords:geopark, geoheritage, geosite, English signboard

Most of people know the geoparks, recently. Until a while ago, few people learned earth science as one of scientific subjects in high schools in Japan. Neither, geography was not compulsory subject of social studies in high school curriculum. Thus, few people who understand topography and geology come to geoparks. In Europe and the United States, earth science education is more substantial than in Japan. The contents of explanatory signboards in geoheritages (geosites and geoparks) are enough, which makes visitors be educated on formation processes of the topography and the geological background of those sites. In Japan, there are many places where such educational signboards prepared, recently. As an example, a fairly detailed explanation signboards were set up in Miyakejima. However, they are written in Japanese which makes difficult for foreign people to understand enough. Since it is estimated that foreign visitors coming to Japan will increase, it is necessary to promote maintenance English signboards as soon as possible.