On December 8-9, 2021 the online workshop “The development of sustainable cruise industry in the Pacific Arctic: Past developments and future prospects” was organized as a cooperative effort involving Japan Arctic Research Network Center (J-ARC Net), Hokkaido University Arctic Research Center, Human Resource Development Platform for Japan-Russia Economic Cooperation and Personnel Exchange (HaRP, in particular, the specialized section “SDGs: Environment, Resource Development and Multicultural Education”), the Arctic Challenge for Sustainability (ArCS) II – project, the UArctic Thematic Network on the Arctic in Asia, Asia in the Arctic, and the Russian Far East and Arctic Development Corporation.
This multidisciplinary workshop brought together researchers, public authorities, private companies, and NGOs interested in the economically, environmentally and socially sustainable and responsible cruise tourism in land and sea areas including Hokkaido, the Russian Far East and the Arctic, the Sea of Okhotsk, the North Pacific Ocean, the Bering Sea and the Chukchi Sea. The topics discussed ranged from the environmental protection, integrated area management, legal and economic regulation to the relationship between local (both indigenous and non-indigenous) communities and tourism industry, port and tourism-related infrastructure and government policies aimed at their development, economic feasibility of new tourism projects, interregional cooperation and human resource development.
The workshop built on the existing Arctic cruise-related research funded by the J-ARC Net and drew on the results of the following seminars which were co-organized by the Japanese participants of the specialized section “SDGs: Environment, Resource Development and Multicultural Education”, Arctic Challenge for Sustainability (ArCS) II Project (particularly, the research program “Elucidating the Complex Dynamics of Arctic Politics and Its Contribution to Japan’s Arctic Policy” and its Subgroup 4 “Non-state actors and paradiplomacy”):
- Seminar 1 “Multilevel Governance and Interregional Cooperation: Vol. 1 – The Pacific Arctic” held on 12 January 2021
- Seminar 2 “Japan-Russia Interregional Cooperation in the Arctic and North – Theory and Practice” held on 3 March 2021
- Seminar 3 “Multilevel Governance and Interregional Cooperation: Vol. 2 – The Barents Region” held on 9 June 2021
- Seminar 4 “Multilevel Governance and Interregional Cooperation: Vol. 3 – “Sustainable Regional Development, International Cooperation and the Protection of the Arctic Environment” held on 14 September 2021
- Seminar 5 “Cross-border interregional cooperation in the Asia-Pacific Region as a driver for the development of the Russian Far East and the Asian Arctic” held on 18 October 2021
The seminar with simultaneous interpretation into English, Japanese and Russian was attended by 122 participants (Day 1) and 112 participants (Day 2) from the academia (including 13 students), government agencies of various levels, nature reserves, private companies and NGOs from Russia, Japan, Bulgaria, Denmark, Norway, Finland, and United States.
The seminar consisted of two sessions.
Day 1 was devoted to the issues of sustainable tourism and environmental protection. Its program comprised opening remarks from Natsuhiko Otsuka (Hokkaido University Arctic Research Center) and 9 presentations from the representatives of Russian and Japanese universities, research institutions, NGOs, and nature reserves (Yoko Mitani, Kyoto University, Wildlife Research Center; Asami Shikida, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST), Shiretoko National Park; Anastasia Kuznetsova, the Commander Islands Nature Reserve; Roman Korchigin, Kronotsky Nature Reserve; Alexander Gruzdev, Wrangel Island Nature Reserve; Gennady Zelensky, NPO Chukotka Science Support Group; Dmitry Glazov, Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Marine Mammal Council of Russia; Stanislav Belikov, Angelina Gnedenko, Darya Chernyshova, All-Russian Research Institute for Environmental Protection, and Olga Shpak, Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Mari Koyano, Hokkaido University, Graduate School of Law.) The concluding remarks were given by Masato Tanaka (Hokkaido University Arctic Research Center).
Day 2 was devoted to the issues of the cruise industry, local communities, interregional cooperation, and human resource development. Its program included opening remarks from moderators Juha Saunavaara and Marina Lomaeva (Hokkaido University Arctic Research Center) and 11 presentations delivered by scholars representing Russian and Japanese universities (including students), research institutes, government agencies (federal, regional and local), NPOs, companies, and indigenous communities (Tomoyuki Sato, Hokkaido Governorate, Department of planning and coordination, the international Division for Russian Affairs; Takafumi Mizukami, Otaru City, Industrial Port and Harbor Development Department; Elena Zaostrovskikh, Economic Research Institute of Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy; Sergey Khvorostyanyy, Vasta Discovery LLC; Georgiy Emelin, NPO Kamchatka Tourism Association; Anna Russkikh / Vulk’yn’yuv, Kamchatka, Koryak indigenous representative; Mayumi Okada, Hokkaido University, Center for Advanced Tourism Studies; Valeryi Nagornyi, Vladivostok Sea Terminal LLC; Valeria Galchenko, Anastasia Polomarchuk, Ekaterina Andreeva, Anna Veshkurtseva, Alina Papirosova, and Valery Gordin, HSE University – St. Petersburg; Vasily Grudev, Sakhalin Government, Minister of Investment Policy; Alexey Limanzo, the Association of Indigenous Peoples of North Sakhalin Region, Representative of the Indigenous Minorities of the North in Sakhalin Regional Duma.) The concluding remarks were delivered by Roman Sementsov (Russian Far East and Arctic Development Corporation).
The workshop demonstrated that questions concerning cruise industry and sustainability can be approached from various angles. It is clear that cruise industry has a great impact in environment, and attention has to be paid to air pollution and emissions, possible oil spills and the type of fuel that is used, noise pollution and its effects on marine wildlife, and cruise customers impact on areas where they land. However, there are also different ways to mitigate these problems and try to educate those onboard about spectacular flora and fauna they can see, and about the threat the Arctic ecosystems are facing due to the global warming. Cruise industry and tourism can also provide jobs, economic growth and improved infrastructure to various Arctic and northern regions. Yet, the sudden emergence of cruise ships carrying hundreds or even thousands of passengers, can also be a major source of stress for local communities and infrastructure.
This workshop was part of a wider Pacific Arctic sustainable cruise initiative based on the international, inter-regional and cross-sectoral cooperation and emphasizing the importance of understanding the local environmental, social, and infrastructural possibilities and limitations. It focused on the key variables ranging from ports and other tourism-related infrastructure to environmental legislation and social license to operate (both among the indigenous and non-indigenous communities). After these variables affecting the cruise industry are identified, analyzed and discussed among the stakeholders, questions concerning feasibility, desirability and commercialization can be considered.
The feedback received from the participants demonstrated that the Russian participants viewed it as a valuable opportunity to learn about the Japanese experience in the field of protected areas’ management (such as Shiretoko World Natural Heritage Site), legal framework for cross-border cooperation with Russia on environmental protection, and research on marine mammals, whose sightings are a major attraction of the cruise tourism. For their part, the Japanese participants of this workshop appreciated a rare chance to learn about the recent trends in the Russian research on charismatic wildlife and its protection programs, and build a holistic picture of the Russian federal and regional government, nature reserves, tourism and port sector, academia and civil society’s efforts at developing sustainable tourism as part of integrated area management plans in the Far East and North (with a particular focus on Sakhalin, Kamchatka and Chukotka).
It is expected that this workshop will become a first significant step in establishing communication between the stakeholders, whose geography comprises but is not limited to the Russian Far East and northern regions and Hokkaido. Some of the participants belong to or are members of and contributors to the various regional, national and international forums and NGOs such as the Arctic Council, Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO), Japan-Russia Exchange Association, Association Maritime Heritage, WWF Russia, Marine Mammal Council of Russia, Kamchatka Tourism Association etc. Hopefully, some of the topics and perspectives introduced at the workshop may be put on the agenda of these organizations and international events they will host or sponsor in the future, so that the discussion started at the workshop could be continued.
Video（You Tube）
Day 1: Sustainable tourism and environmental protection
Day 1 first half
Day 1 second half
Day 2: Cruise industry, local communities, interregional cooperation, and human resource development
Day 2 first half
Day 2 second half
Program
Click here to see the full program.
Presentation materials
Day 1: Sustainable tourism and environmental protection
Day 2: Cruise industry, local communities, interregional cooperation, and human resource development
Related Information
The list of organizations whose representatives participated.
Japan
Central Consultant Inc.
Hokkaido Corporation JSC
Hokkaido Government
Hokkaido University
International Cruise Marketing Ltd.
Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST)
Japan Air Travel Marketing
Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)
Japan Travel center
Japan Travel Concierge (JTC)
Japan-Russia Exchange Association 日ロ交流協会
Kyoto University
Musashino University
Nagoya University
National Institute of Polar Research
Otaru City
Sophia University
The University of Tokyo
Trywell International Co.
Yokohama National University
Russia
A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences (IIE RAS)
All-Russian Research Institute of Environmental Protection (VNII Ecology)
AMP Primorsky Krai and Eastern Arctic
Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI)
Arctic Council Secretariat
Association Maritime Heritage
Atomflot
Chukotka Science Support Group
Commander Islands Bioshpere Reserve
Committee for Asia and Oceania, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation (CCI RF)
Dealan Energo LLC
Economic Research Institute, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ERI FEB RAS)
Far Eastern Federal University
Far Eastern Regional Hydrometeorological Research Institute (FERHRI)
Far Eastern State Technical Fisheries University
GoArctic
Government of Sakhalin Region
HSE University (Saint-Petersburg)
Kamchatka Tourism Association
KamchatNIRO, Kamchatka Branch of VNIRO (Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography)
Kandalaksha Nature Reserve
Khabarovsk State University of Economics and Law
Kronotsky Nature Reserve
Kurilskiy Nature Reserve
M.G. Safronov Yakut Scientific Research Institute of Agriculture
Marine Mammal Council of Russia
Ministry of tourism of Kamchatka Region
North-Eastern Federal University in Yakutsk
North-Eastern Federal University, Chukotka Branch
North-Eastern State University
Northern (Arctic) Federal University
Northern Expeditions LTD
NTT Russia
Pacific Geographical Institute, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Pacific National University
Pacific Oceanological Institute, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
PINRO, Polar branch of VNIRO (Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography)
Primorsky Regional Branch of the Russian Geographical Society
Project Office for Arctic Development (PORA)
Representative of indigenous peoples in the Sakhalin Regional Duma
Russian Far East and Arctic Development Corporation
Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)
Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography (VNIRO)
Russian State Hydrometeorological University
Saint-Petersburg State University
Saint-Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering (SPbGASU)
Sakhalin State University
SakhNIRO, Sakhalin Branch of VNIRO (Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography)
Siberian Federal University
Southern Scientific Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences (SSC RAS )
Ural Federal University
Vasta Discovery LLC
Vladivostok City Administration
Vladivostok Sea Terminal LLC (cruise terminal operator)
Vostok Tour LLC
Wrangel island Nature Reserve
WWF Russia
Other
Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO), Norway
Bulgarian Maritime Training Center, Bulgaria
North Pacific Wildlife Consulting, United States
University of Lapland, Finland
University of Southern Denmark, Denmark