The 12th Japan Outdoor Leadership Conference is held in Nishi-Tama, Tokyo. Nishi-Tama is a unique area not only in Japan but also in the world, because more than half of the region is covered by national parks while it is suburb area close to Tokyo metropolitan. Additionally, the region is facing various issues such as population decline and aging. So, It is significant valuable to hold the conference in this area.

Last year, as the COVID pandemic got over, a number of domestic and international tourist have begun to recover. Nishi-Tama is not only attracting tourist but also restarting various local activities. The resent outdoor boom is now integrating the new movement of adventure tourism which is expected local economical development.

On the other hand, over-tourism is realizing in various domestic destination, so that environmental load on their land is getting seriously. For Nishi-Tama, the huge number of vehicle came from the other area was filled up in everywhere for the summer vacation season. At this situation, both of Ome City and Akiruno City reached the strategic cooperative agreement with Leave No Trace Japan to protected local environment and sustain the quality of the nature. While everyone learns about SDGs from elementary school kids to our life style, the local destination have to consider how outdoor education and recreation can take harmonious balance with the environment. 

The theme of this conference is “Future Perspective of Japanese Outdoor Industry from Nishi-Tama.” We will face directly on the way of outdoor education and recreation as a business. The Nishi-Tama has been struggling between economical development and environmental conservation since Edo era because of locating close to Tokyo. We would challenge the integration of city and nature as the front line of the suburb nature setting.

Our action in Nishi-Tama is being watched how we are facing this controversial issues of economy and conservation and how we are utilizing outdoor business to contribute local development. This challenge is not only for Nishi-Tama, but also all  local area whole over the nation. I hope the conference will become the place where local government, company and community can get together and discuss this topics. I am looking forward to seeing you in the conference.