Nature-Based Tourism in Asia’s Mountainous Protected Areas: A Trans-regional Review of Peaks and Parks

This book provides holistic insights into management of protected areas across East Asia and identifies current trends in mountain tourism within the broader field of human geography and nature conservation. The book describes the diversification in visitors and expanding protected areas territories in different Asian countries during recent years. It also compares protected areas networks in the context of the changing demographic profiles of visitors and provides an interdisciplinary transnational appraisal of mountain-based tourism in Asia based on national and international statistics. The research combines specific case studies at the individual country and destination level with trans-regional trends, thereby offering analysis from both the perspective of supply (parks, protected areas, and stakeholders) and demand (mountain tourist market trends and segments). The book is a useful resource for students and academics in tourism and protected areas studies as well as social scientists and policy-makers interested in Asian countries.

Tom E. Jones is Associate Professor of Environmental Studies at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) in Kyushu, Japan. His research interests include Environmental Policy, Nature-Based Tourism and Protected Area Management. Originally from the UK, Jones has experienced life in Japan as an international student from both sides of the lectern, completing his PhD at the University of Tokyo. He then worked as a consultant for municipal governments carrying out visitor surveys in the Japan Alps and joining a visitor monitoring survey of Mount Fuji climbers every summer 2008-2017.

Huong T. Bui is Professor and Field Leader of the Tourism and Hospitality Program of the College of Asia Pacific Studies, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) in Kyushu, Japan. She holds a PhD in Tourism Management from Griffith University (Australia). She has received research grants from the Japan Foundation and Japan Society for Promotion of Sciences (JSPS) on the topics of heritage tourism in Southeast Asia, tourism resources management, and disaster risk management for tourism sector in Asia. She published articles in leading journals with topics such as ’tourism and development’, ’sustainable tourism’, ’heritage tourism’ and ’community resilience’. Prior to her career in academia, she worked in the tourism industry and was a consultant for tourism development projects in Southeast Asia for the World Bank, JICA and SNV.

Michal Apollo is Assistant Professor at the Institute of Geography, Pedagogical University of Krakow. Michal’s areas of expertise are tourism management, consumer behaviours as well as environmental and socio-economical issues. Currently he is working on a concept of sustainable use of environmental and human resources. He is also an enthusiastic, traveller, diver, mountaineer, ultra-runner, photographer, and science populariser.