Problems of local tourism
I live in Kami-cho,Japan and my hobby is guiding tourists. However, there are not a lot for foreign tourists. Because here is not a famous tourist spot among foreign tourists.
My town is located in the center of San’in Kaigan Global UNESCO Geopark. A geopark is a natural park where you can learn while enjoying the relationship between the earth and the way people live.（At present, there are 147 UNESCO Global Geoparks in 41 countries.）
The San’in Kaigan Global UNESCO Geopark, where I guide, is named “Global”, but there are still few signs, guidebooks, and web information for foreign tourists. Many historical sites, tourist attractions and shops are not displayed in English on Google Maps.
In order for foreign tourists to travel to this town, I decided to start posting information on Google Maps. Because the best source I look for before and during travel is Google Maps.
Participating in the Japan Local Guides Meet-up in Urabandai
Japan Local Guides Meet-up in Urabandai was held in February this year, and I participated for the first time. I’m also working as a local guide,and I usually teach companies how to use Google My Business as part of their work.
Why I joined
・ Activities of local guides in Japan
・ What is the perspective of the veteran local guide writing reviews?
・ What kind of person is a local guide?
I was interested in all of them.
Eager local guides from all over Japan participated in the Local Guides Meet-up. Participants learned not only how to use a 360-degree camera,Theta, but also how to take pictures that are easy to convey information and points to note when posting reviews. I also learned about the fun and significance of the Local Guides program and the depth of activities.
Local guide activities after returning my home town
After returning to my hometown, I asked a tour guide who owns a smartphone for cooperation. So far, I’ve been changing maps and posting reviews, but I have been doing them alone. From now on, I will go around tourist spots with tour guides, and post reviews and photos, check facts, and register English names.
This activity has three benefits.
- Discuss and teach how to use Google Maps.
- Helps to think about what information will please tourists.
- Posting skills as a local guide will naturally improve.
I would like to share this activity with other Geopark guides in Japan and increase the number of tour guides that provide information as local guides. Also, with the help of a Japanese local guide, I would like to create information on the geopark area and a map so that foreigners visiting Japan can enjoy traveling.
Hope in the future
At present, foreign tourists rarely come to Japan because of COVID-19. However, after recovering from this situation, and world peace comes, I think more foreign tourists will visit Japan. At that time, I will do my best for tourists traveling around my hometown and Japan using Google Maps.