- The Next World Class Tourist Destination - NEXT GIFU HERITAGE

Since 2007, the government of Gifu Prefecture has been working on the Treasures of Gifu certification project, which aims to uncover the region’s natural, historical and cultural resources and to develop them into nationally recognized tourism resources.

Due to sustainable tourism becoming a global trend, the GSTC (Global Sustainable Tourism Council) Destination Criteria have been incorporated into the Treasures of Gifu certification criteria, and in 2022, a new certification system called NEXT GIFU HERITAGE was launched to recognize tourism programs that have made progressive efforts toward sustainable tourism and are expected to become next world-class tourist destinations.

Conditions for certification

1. 1 The program must be sustainable in terms of society, economy, and the environment. (It must be accepted by the community and its residents, provide direct and indirect economic benefits, and be environmentally friendly.)
2. 2 The program must be expected to attract visitors from both inside and outside the country.
3. 3 The program must aim to gain international ecognition.

This article will introduce two sustainable tourism programs ’The Land of Natural Wonders
Hida-Osaka Waterfalls and Hot Springs’ and ’The Land of Timeless History
Visit Ena Iwamura’s Mountain Castle Ruins, Old Town, and Rural Scenery’ which were certified for the program.