Yonago (Tottori Prefecture) ー A tourism workshop to boost the economy of San’in, comprising Shimane and Tottori Prefectures, was held in Yonago on 14th February. Fifteen speakers presented their business plans. Attendees included local government representatives, companies, and residents. This marked the final presentations of the 4th San-in Tourism Human Resource Enhancement School.
Yasuko Ito from Matsue City proposed a sightseeing boat featuring ghost stories by Lafcadio Hearn. This plan involves storytellers of Yakumo’s ghost stories on sightseeing boats touring Matsue City’s Horikawa River, guiding visitors through the city’s main parts. “Bakebake: Matsue’s Hospitality Manner” derives from the Japanese word “Bakeru,” meaning transformation. The theme is also inspired by an NHK TV drama about Lafcadio Hearn’s wife.
“This school has been helpful to me, and advice from business professionals and university professors has been immensely beneficial,” said Ito.
The San’in Tourism Human Resource Enhancement School collaborates with Shimane University, Tottori College, and the San’in Tourism Organization. It aims to boost the region’s tourism strategy, especially since San’in is hardly known to foreign travellers. According to the Japan Tourism Agency, Japan had a record high of 36.87 million visitors in 2024, whereas Shimane ranked last in visitor percentage (0.2%) and Tottori was 44th (0.3%) in 2023, respectively.
The program is scheduled to continue next fiscal year, from September to February.