Pre-reading questions:
- What comes to mind when you think about Mount Fuji?
- What do you think makes Mount Fuji a popular destination for both tourists and locals?
Vocabulary:
- propose /pruh-POHZ/
- ease /eez/
- strain /streyn/
- harmony /HAHR-muh-nee/
- vision /VIZH-uhn/
[verb] – to offer or suggest a possible plan or action for other people to consider
The committee will propose a new policy to address the environmental concerns raised by the community.
[verb] – to make or become less severe, difficult, unpleasant, painful, etc.
The company introduced new software to ease the process of managing inventory and orders.
[noun] – a force or influence that stretches, pulls, or puts pressure on something, sometimes causing damage
The constant heavy traffic placed a significant strain on the aging bridge, eventually causing structural damage.
[noun] – a state of agreement, unity, or peaceful coexistence between different elements
The garden was designed with a perfect harmony of colors and textures, creating a tranquil and visually appealing atmosphere.
[noun] – an idea or mental image of something
The architect had a clear vision of how the building should look, with sleek lines and modern design elements.
Article reading:
As Mount Fuji marks its tenth year as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Nagasaki recognizes the urgency of addressing the challenges tied to excessive tourism. UNESCO’s designation comes with responsibilities like managing visitor numbers, lessening environmental effects, and ensuring harmony with the site’s natural and historical context. Regrettably, the past decade has seen these challenges worsen, risking the site’s esteemed UNESCO status. Nagasaki’s innovative solution involves replacing the current Fuji Subaru highway leading to Mount Fuji’s fifth station with a light rail system. This system intends to control visitor numbers, reduce private vehicles, and enhance the visitor experience while preserving the area’s natural beauty and spirituality. The Yamanashi Prefectural Government is committed to making this vision a reality and is conducting a feasibility study. They aim to secure support from stakeholders, including local residents, by March 2024. Urgency arises from a twofold increase in fifth station visitors between 2012 and 2019, resulting in overcrowding, environmental problems, and reduced tourist satisfaction. By shifting the focus from quantity to quality, Nagasaki’s initiative strives to protect Mount Fuji’s sanctity while ensuring a sustainable and enriching experience for visitors.
Comprehension questions
- What solution has Governor Kotaro Nagasaki proposed to address overtourism’s impact on Mount Fuji?
- Why is addressing the challenges of excessive tourism crucial for Mount Fuji as a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
- What responsibilities come with the UNESCO designation of Mount Fuji as a World Heritage Site?
- How does Governor Nagasaki’s proposed solution aim to mitigate the challenges caused by excessive tourism?
- What changes does the proposed light rail transit system aim to bring to the current situation at Mount Fuji?
Discussion questions
- Have you ever been to a popular tourist spot where too many people caused problems for the environment and the visitor experience? If not, how do you see the idea of overtourism and its effects?
- What do you think about the light rail transit system proposed by Governor Kotaro Nagasaki? How could it help with the issues caused by too many tourists at Mount Fuji?
- Do you agree that the UNESCO World Heritage status of Mount Fuji, along with the challenges of overtourism, shows how important it is to balance tourism promotion with the preservation of nature and culture?
- What difficulties do you think the Yamanashi Prefectural Government might face when they try to make the light rail system a reality?
- How could they make sure that the light rail system doesn’t get overwhelmed by too many visitors? What steps could they take to manage its capacity effectively?