Chikako Isouchi, Kousuke Sonoda
IECMS

1. Research Objective
This study aims to examine specific measures to establish safe and secure tourism on the islands of Kagawa Prefecture, drawing on the tourism crisis management efforts of Okinawa Prefecture and Ishigaki City, both recognized as leading regions in this field. Additionally, the study explores the development of a tourism crisis management model specifically for remote islands in Kagawa, using Ogijima as a case study.
　2. Research Method
This research involved a literature review on tourism crisis management in Kagawa Prefecture, along with field investigations conducted on Ogijima to analyze the current situation. Furthermore, semi-structured interviews were carried out with relevant departments in Okinawa Prefecture and Ishigaki City to gather examples of practical initiatives, which were then used to identify feasible strategies applicable to Ogijima.
　3. Results and Discussion
In Kagawa Prefecture, although the regional disaster prevention plan includes safety measures for tourists and the Kagawa Tourism Association has developed relevant manuals, major events such as the Setouchi Triennale have highlighted shortages in manpower and resources. This has underscored the need for collaboration between tourism operators and local residents.
In Okinawa Prefecture and Ishigaki City, tourism crisis management plans have been developed as sub-plans of the Chiiki Bousai Keikaku. These include specific measures to ensure tourist safety, such as the creation of manuals for tourism operators, joint drills involving government agencies and businesses, and the establishment of informationsharing platforms using social media even during normal times.
Ogijima, the focus of this study, is a remote island in Takamatsu City with a population of approximately 140. During the previous Setouchi Triennale, held amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the island received over 40,000 visitors. Concerns among local residents regarding potential damage from a Nankai Trough earthquake during the festival led to the development of a Community Disaster Management plan.
　From advanced case studies, the following elements were identified as necessary:
a) evacuation guidance drills, b) measures for stranded individuals, c) introduction of multilingual disaster prevention apps, d) installation of highly visible signage, and e) strengthened cooperation with relevant organizations.