Perspective on Geoparks and Geotourism Based on Case Studies of Geoparks in Japan and China

In the twenty-first century, there has been an increase in geopark projects to encourage the sustainable development of regions. At the same time, issues and questions regarding the status and problems posed by geoparks and geotourism, particularly in Japan, have come under greater scrutiny from researchers and others working in the field. Having outlined the characteristics of geoparks and geotourism in previous studies, this paper will discuss desirable ways to develop geoparks in Japan. The paper will focus on case studies of geoparks in China, which has more geoparks than any other country. There are very few Japanese papers on geoparks in China. There also are no comparative research papers, based on questionnaires or interviews undertaken at Chinese administrative offices, discussing the common features and differences between geoparks in Japan and China.