The GSTC Sustainable Tourism Private Course, held in Tokyo, Japan, from the 29th to the 31st of October 2025, sponsored by the Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau (TCVB) for its employees, concluded successfully.
Led by GSTC Trainer Dr. Mami Futagami, Professor Emeritus at Meijo University, the course was delivered in a structured learning environment that encouraged discussion and knowledge exchange among professionals. Dr. Futagami shared her knowledge and expertise with practical examples and valuable insights during the three-day program, and provided participants with a deep understanding of the GSTC Standards, their relevance, and their use across different contexts within the tourism sector. Participants also had the chance to hear from guest speaker Hideya Sato, Tourism General Producer of the Chuo Ward Tourism Association.
The group also had the opportunity to listen to Ms. Eriko Takezawa, Secretariat Advisor for the Ginza Street Association and Secretary General of the Ginza Town Development Council, who explained how they have worked to preserve Ginza’s character by implementing various rules, including the Ginza Design Rule. After a one-hour talk, she guided the participants on a tour of the Ginza Street area. This allowed the participants to see how Ginza has evolved into a unique urban tourist destination, with its own distinct value and sense of community. The visit provided them with contextual insight into the role of cultural institutions in the urban tourism landscape, highlighting the relationships among heritage preservation, local identity, and visitor experience in a high-density city environment.
The sponsored course supported participants in linking sustainability concepts with practical examples, reinforcing responsible and sustainable practices across different areas of the tourism sector and contributing to more informed decision-making within their respective professional roles.
“All participants from member companies and organizations of TCVB’s Sustainable Tourism Partnership were highly motivated and eager to apply the GSTC Standards they learned in this training to their specific businesses. We were privileged to have guest speaker Mr. Hideya Sato, General Producer of Tourism at Chuo Ward Tourism Association, who gave a presentation on how Tokyo’s central ward has thrived through sustainable inbound tourism management. Walking through the Ginza streets led by Ms. Takezawa helped deepen our understanding of the importance of community empowerment in managing a coherent and attractive urban destination,” said Dr. Futagami.
If you are interested in deepening your understanding of sustainable tourism and learning how to apply the GSTC Standards in practice, upcoming GSTC Sustainable Tourism Courses are held regularly around the world and online, open to professionals from all sectors of the tourism industry. For more information about future training opportunities, please click here.
