“Efforts to preserve Yanagawa’s canals have been selected as one of the ‘100 Best Practices for Sustainable Tourism Development in the World’.”
カテゴリ：Announcements
“Efforts to preserve Yanagawa’s canals have been selected as one of the ‘100 Best Practices for Sustainable Tourism Development in the World’.”
An initiative in Yanagawa City, Fukuoka Prefecture, in which citizens, private businesses, and the local government have collaborated to preserve and utilize the canals, has been selected as one of the “Green Destinations Top 100 Stories 2026” by the international NGO “Green Destinations.” The Yanagawa City Tourism Association was the applicant for this recognition.
Background of Selection and Evaluation Points (Sustainable Urban Development through Public-Private and Citizen Partnerships)
The approximately 930km network of canals crisscrossing Yanagawa City is not merely an infrastructure project led by the government; it has been preserved to this day through the collaborative efforts of citizens, private businesses, and the administration, who work together to “use and protect” it.
The area has a history of preserving traditional activities such as “Horiboshi,” a community-wide event, and overcoming the threat of land reclamation in the 1980s through strong solidarity between citizens and private businesses. Even today, private companies such as river cruise operators, local residents, and the government work closely together to balance water quality conservation activities with creating value as a tourist resource.
In this selection, the canals were not simply recognized as a tourist attraction, but rather for the story of how they have been preserved and passed down through public-private partnerships and the efforts of the local community, as well as for the sustainable initiatives that harmonize daily life and tourism, which were highly praised on a global scale.
What is “Green Destinations Top 100 Stories”?
This is an international program implemented by the international NGO “Green Destinations,” which aims to promote sustainable tourism, to select and disseminate excellent examples of sustainable tourism development (good practice stories) from around the world. It is not a system to certify the sustainability of an entire tourist destination, but rather an evaluation of specific initiatives to address local challenges.
Overview of the “GD2026 Conference”
Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2026 *Participation in presentations and discussions will take place on Thursday, October 29.
Venue: Kranj, Slovenia
Contents: Awards ceremony for the Top 100 selected regions; sharing and exchange of good practices from sustainable tourism destinations around the world.
Official website: https://gd2026.greendestinations.org/
Scenes from the “GD2026 Conference Dinner & Awards Ceremony”
Information on future developments and media coverage
Details regarding the awards ceremony in Slovenia, photographs of the presenters, and the award-winning initiatives of Yanagawa City will be provided and announced in due course. For individual interviews, requests for photographic materials, or any inquiries regarding this matter, please contact us at the address below.
[Contact information for media inquiries regarding this matter]
Yanagawa City Tourism Association (General Incorporated Association) Contact Person: Ujiie
TEL: 0944-88-9027 E-mail: dmo@yanagawa-net.com
