Communication and Aso Tourism Revival Post-Earthquake 2016: Using Web Technology for English Information Spread Jeffrey Morrow Faculty of Environmental and Symbiotic Sciences Prefectural University of Kumamoto
Introduction Thursday and Saturday, April 14 th and 16 th! 2 earthquakes, magnitude 6.4 and 7.3 rocked the city of Kumamoto, Japan Epicenter was located in the section of Mashiki, east of downtown Kumamoto. The fault line through tourist area Mount Aso along the Tateno Divide Caused much destruction in the Minami Aso Village Downing of Aso Bridge, cracking and dismantling of roads, and disheveling and tilting of houses in the area
Fig. 1 Map of Japan Source: globalsherpa.org, 2017
Photo by Morrow, 4/29/2016 Fig. 2 Fault Line
Photo by Morrow 4/15/2017 Fig. 3 My Office
People were shocked as they left their homes and many homes were destroyed beyond repair Businesses were also destroyed beyond immediate repair This event marked a turning point in the history of Kumamoto The residents experienced the first major earthquake in over 100 years
Fig. 4 Minami Aso Photo by Morrow, 4/29/2016
Fig. 5 Photo by Morrow, 4/29/2016
Many stayed put after the 1 st quake, feeling that it was not that dangerous However, the 7.3M on the next morning at 1:26 AM on April 16 th was a much more powerful earthquake This clock is in my wife s family cottage Photo by Morrow, 4/29/2016
Again, residents woke up shocked and many evacuated to nearby elementary schools, which is the norm in Japan Others evacuated to parks parking lots restaurants, or elsewhere Photo by Morrow, 4/16/2016
Earthquake Information During and after the earthquakes information was given on television and radio in Japanese Very little English information was available on local media or through local government Local announcements were not given in either Japanese or English English information through local government or on TV was unavailable This left many to feel that the only safe place to sleep was in their cars
The Kumamoto International Facebook group and Yahoo group did disseminate English information Many did not know about this particular Facebook group, and did not have access to the Internet After the earthquakes it was apparent that homes, roads, apartment buildings and businesses were damaged beyond repair Many businesses either closed their doors for good, tried to function as they were Many took time (3-6 months or more) to remodel and reopen
Fig. 6 Tourist Destination Aso Farm Land Photo by Morrow, 6/17/2017
Fig. 7 Aso Farm Land Photo by Yuko Yamasaki, 4/16/2016
Fig. 8 Aso Farm Land Photo by Yuko Yamasaki, 4/16/2017
Post-earthquake effects found some foreign residents leaving Kumamoto for other parts of Japan Many left Japan for good The tourism industry in Aso-Kuju National Park was negatively affected The collapse of Aso Bridge, the destruction of the small towns of Minami Aso and Tateno Desecration of other area businesses such as hotels, restaurants, and souvenir shops, forced many to close their doors for good
To this end, two research questions came to mind. 1) How can English information be more readily spread over the Internet in a quicker time frame via smartphone applications which focus on disaster information such as escape shelters and where to obtain food and water, and 2) how can smartphone applications be created to provide eco-tourism related English words and phrases and environmental English training for ecotourism employees to be used with international travelers quickly?
Research Goal The goal of this research was to: Examine how to rejuvenate the tourist industry businesses through web technology Examine how to promote the safety and return of international travelers to Aso after the earthquakes Survey in Aso tourist businesses regarding post earthquake situation was conducted in Aso businesses Information was gathered from managers and owners Suggestions on how to further promote ecotourism in Aso using English information globally and was also compiled from owners and managers
Method The survey was conducted inbusinesses within the area of Minami-Aso Town between October 2016 and May 2017 The research team, consisting of two students with high intermediate levels of English proficiency, wrote the questionnaire The questionnaire was piloted in several tourism businesses October 2016 Preliminary data was collected between October 2016 and December 2016 Real background data was collected in face-to-face interviews in TI during January, February, March, April, and May of 2017 in four survey areas of Aso (see Fig. 11)
Fig.11 Map of Survey Areas Area 1 Route 57 Komezuka Route 212 Area 2 Mount Naka Crater Route 325 Area 3 Route 28 Source: Created from survey data, 2017 A r e a 4 Mount Naka
One survey area was around the collapsed Aso Bridge This bridge was a main thoroughfare between the national route 57 and Minami Aso Village and other points The collapse downed several student dormitories and several buildings linked to Tokai University in Aso The campus is still currently closed
Fig. 12 Aso Bridge Collapse Photo by KKT TV, 4/16/2017
This picture shows the view from the opposite side of Mount Aso near Tokai University A landslide that occurred during the second earthquake took down the bridge The bridge was quite long, and land around it also collapsed This area is in the survey area
Photo by Morrow, 4/29/2016 Fig. 13 Aso Bridge
Here is a picture of a train that jumped from its track after the second earthquake This train line is still currently closed This area is also in the survey area
Photo by Morrow, 4/29/2016 Fig. 14 Derailed Train
Survey Instrument A questionnaire was used to gather background data of the managers of obvious tourist related businesses in Mount Aso Goal was to gather background information in face to face interviews of tourism related business managers in Mount Aso to check on post-quake conditions Another goal was to check English proficiency of managers and to ask about English usage to attract potential international visitors
Example of Questions Socioeconomic questions such as age, marital status, children, living situation, and prefecture of birth Education question such as highest educational level, total years and hours of English education, language education Employment questions such as length of time at job, obtaining the job, working hours per week
Earthquake questions such as previous experience with natural disasters, condition of home and business, reactions, and sources where information was received English questions such as the benefit to the business with studying English level of understanding and communication in English only, use of English at job, needs of English, frequency of native speaker visits were also asked
To assess English proficiency (for disaster and ecotourism information spread by employees), the assistants used hand-held IC recorders on which self introductions were recorded The English ability assessment was loosely based on the CEFR Each participants recording was analyzed by linguists following the system The English levels were used as variables to check statistical outcomes and test for correlations
Table 1. English Ability Assessment 0 No or little ability - can't communicate at all 1 Beginner - can only understand and use familiar everyday expressions 2 3 4 5 High Beginner - can understand and use expressions within everyday relevance Intermediate - can understand many things, can produce but with many mistakes High Intermediate - can understand and produce ideas but with lower confidence Advanced - can understand everything and produce fluently and confidently Source: Morrow, 2010
Table 2. Demographics of Aso Tourism n=16 Source: Compiled from survey data, 2017
Table 2. Statistical Results of TI Business Managers n=16 Source: Derived from survey data, 2017
International Customer Information (from managers) All managers stated that they received many international customers on a regular basis Sixteen stated that international customers visited their shops every day Five - customer base mainly Japanese Eight - base was Japanese and Asian (Chinese, Korean, Taiwan) Two - mainly Japanese, Asian, and Western (including England, Australia and America) One - customers were mainly Asian
Customer Origin Country of origin - Four: only China and Korea Two: China, Korea, England, US, Canada One: China, Korea, Australia, Eng, US One: China, Korea, Eng, Canada (Taiwan) One: China, Korea, US One: Korea, Canada (Taiwan, Hong Kong). One: China Korea, Taiwan One: China, Korea, Europe Two: China, Korea, Australia, US (Taiwan) One: All One: China, Australia, England, France, and Germany Many customers were from Asian countries although English was used
During-Earthquake Activities All (100%) respondents were getting ready for bed, taking a bath, watching TV, eating, drinking with friends, or sleeping when the first quake hit Fifteen said they were sleeping with the second earthquake hit one was having drinks with family. After the first quake, all respondents stayed put until the quake was over most checked on family but continued their nightly activities After the second larger quake Nine said their immediate reaction was to check on family, and/or children and parents, One said she covered her child Five said they went outside to check on neighbors One protected parents Many had to escape to earthquake shelters
Disaster Preparedness for the Kumamoto Earthquakes, 2016 Ten respondents (63%) experienced a natural disaster before Heavy rain, volcano eruptions, and earthquake tremors. One experienced the earthquake in Tohoku in 2011, and escaped to Aso None of the participants were prepared to handle the Kumamoto earthquakes, even thought some of them had experience Six had not experienced a natural disaster previously and were not prepared
Information During and After the Earthquakes None of the respondents were given any information as how to prepare for a natural disaster before the earthquakes Five (31%) business managers received sparse information after the quakes One received info on escape shelters and where to assemble from word of mouth Two on the water and road conditions One received info from the TV on the condition of the earthquakes One on receiving assistance with sleeping bags and tents Remaining received no information whatsoever during and immediately after the earthquakes
Information during and after the quakes - difficult for many participants Seven people could obtain some information only through Yahoo disaster, by the app Line or by SNS Three could receive some information from radio and newspaper slightly after the quakes but not during All received no information on water supply, electric, gas, oil and road, although they would have liked to Several also responded that where to obtain food and bottled water was not readily available and that these kinds of information would have been very useful
Post-Quake Business Conditions Shop condition after the first earthquake: Seven responded perfect, five responded good, and two responded fair, and two responded poor (12%). After the second earthquake: 11 responded poor condition (69%), two fair, two good, and one quite good condition Three were able to open immediately, 1 could open after 5 days, 3 after 3 days, 1 after 1 week, 2 after 2 weeks, 2 after one month, 2 after 6 months, and 1 after 9 months, and 1 after 1 year As for relaying information in English regarding eco aspects of Mount Aso, many felt that they wanted to be able to give information on the volcano, food and crops, hot spring, and accommodation information in English But ability was lacking at survey time
Table 3. Qualitative Results of Business Managers (in number) n=16 Source: Derived from survey data, 2017
Qualitative questions were based on a five-point Likert scale 9 strongly agreed that quakes negatively effected customer influx 6 strongly agreed, 6 agreed that their shop would benefit from English ability 8 strongly agreed that Aso is interesting and also felt that international customers would visit if they could communicate in English 6 strongly agreed, 7 agreed that they are prepared to study English more
Aso Ecotourism Promotion Post-earthquakes (with English) Many stated that in order to revamp the tourism industry: More information should be spread globally about Aso-Kuju National Park and what it has to offer This can be accomplished by creating new websites containing English information It can also be helped by spreading earthquake preparedness information in English Include much information on the Internet
To this end, an app creation project was initiated to make 2 apps for use by international travelers to Aso, and by tourism employees communicating with travelers 1) English Disaster Safety Information App The first aspect is to facilitate the return of international travelers to the Aso-Kuju National Park by: Creating a smartphone application to promote earthquake safety and information in English Since the earthquakes are on international travelers minds when they make travel plans, this would ease travelers mindsets when considering whether to visit Aso or not after the earthquakes Advice on disaster communication will be gleaned through analysis of the questionnaire data
Fig. 9 Safety App Frontpage Present Safety Situations! Touch below for safety info -Earthquake -Volcano -Typhoon -Heavy Rain -Landslide Click here for instant English info safeplus -Aso- Safe Spots! Touch area for info on open and ready locations for food, water, and shelter -Minami Aso -Uchinomaki -Ichinomiya -Choyo -Ubuyama -Yamato -Takamori -Takachiho Send instant message to connect with other users here Click here if you are an employee in ecotourism
2) English for Ecotourism App The second aspect of research question is to assist Aso-Kuju tourism business managers and owners by creating smartphone applications These contain useful words and phrases not only for disaster safety Also offer training in English so they and their employees will be able to explain the environmental aspects and ecotourism activities around Aso-Kuju. Facilitating the return of travelers to Aso also entails providing information via the apps regarding interesting ecotourism offerings in the Aso-Kuju area
Fig. 10 English App Frontpage EcoEnglish! Speak English with international travelers now Introductions -About me -About my job -About Aso Click for lessons Ecotourism Sightseeing Location info In English for travelers in Aso Touch for lessons Easy guide English! Touch here for quick lessons Environmental English -Plants -Animals -Rivers -Forests -Hot springs Touch here for ecotourism activities
Why Make New Web Technology?
Many websites are translated into English using a machine generated translator the end product is bad English Many websites have a simple English page at a dead link and no other links to other pages Some websites have an English page with totally different content
The Research Projects English disaster and ecoutourism promotion website projects is in the initial stage Up-to-date English information In conjunction with the Kumamoto International Foundation (Mr. Yagi) Tourism employee app projects is getting under way Useful words and phrases for ease of use with customers The app also has earthquake information and language for instructing customers what to do should an earthquake hit
Aso Tourism needs: Eager guides with a high command of English Knowledgeable tourism staff, interesting eco-tour itineraries, and opportunities to teach travelers about the nature of Aso also help This can help create dynamic, lively tourism destinations This includes plant and fauna, water maintenance, crop production, and ecotourism activities Bird-watching, nature walking, mountain biking, hiking, camping, paragliding, and the like help revamp and recreate the ecotourism industry in Aso-Kuju National Park But they have to be taught this!
The End Thanks for listening!