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The GSTC Japan Members Meeting and Workshop, hosted by Sapporo City and JaSCA (Japan Sustainability Coordinator Association), successfully concluded on 24 September 2025, gathering more than 45 participants on-site and 50 joining online.
The event took place at Akarenga (the former Hokkaido Government Office) in Sapporo, an iconic Western-style building originally built in 1888 and recently renovated. The historic venue provided a pleasant backdrop for the meeting.
This workshop marked the fourth of its kind in Japan for GSTC Members and was highlighted by the presence of several key figures from the GSTC, including GSTC CEO Randy Durband, GSTC Board Member Kuniko Takasaki (Managing Executive Officer, Chief DEIB Officer, JTB Group), GSTC Finance Director Emi Kaiwa, GSTC Asia Market Development Manager Dr. Soohyun Kwon, Japan Market Development Manager Naomi Oiwa, and GSTC Membership Coordinator Mei-Han Feng.
The first workshop was held in September 2023, followed by a second edition in May 2024 and a third workshop in February 2025.
“It was a great honor to host the GSTC workshop in Sapporo. We were blessed with good weather, and the wonderful Hokkaido Redbrick Hall was a great venue, so I think all the participants were able to enjoy a sense of openness similar to that of an overseas Conference. This workshop also has a strong networking element, so this time, in addition to the workshop in the conference room, there were suburban options and a social gathering, which allowed members to deepen their connections and provided a great opportunity for interaction between members,” Commented Japan’s Sustainability Coordinator Association Director, Mr. Aoki.
“We are pleased that the first workshop in Sapporo was a success. Through interactions with everyone at GSTC and the participants, we have been further motivated to work on promoting sustainable tourism in Sapporo.” Said Mr. Aihara from the City of Sapporo, Tourism Division.
During the program, Mr. Durband shared insights on global sustainable tourism trends, highlights from the GSTC2025 Global Sustainable Tourism Conference in Fiji, the importance of GSTC Certification, as well as GSTC’s new roundtables on Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) Certification and animal welfare in tourism.
In the afternoon, the GSTC Member City of Sapporo and JaSCA (Japan Sustainability Coordinator Association) presented their ongoing initiatives. Followed by a group discussion and sharing of experiences. The meeting offered valuable opportunities for members to exchange knowledge, learn from diverse perspectives, and continue building momentum for sustainable tourism in Japan.
