10 Years After the Kumamoto Earthquake: Training 70 Disaster Prevention Specialists in Minamioguni, a Town Receiving 1.4 Million Annual Visitors

SMO Minamioguni (President: Shuji Takahashi), a Destination Management Organization (DMO) operating in Minamioguni, Aso District, Kumamoto Prefecture, is launching a "Disaster Prevention Specialist Training Project" for local tourism businesses and residents.

On June 18 and 19, 2026, the company will conduct a two-day training session to certify approximately 70 disaster prevention specialists, aiming to improve regional resilience and strengthen the tourism crisis management system.

Minamioguni welcomes approximately 400,000 overnight guests annually, and a total of 1.4 million visitors, including day-trippers. About 100,000 of these are international tourists.

Marking the 10th anniversary of the Kumamoto earthquake, this project directly addresses the challenge of "Who will protect the tourists?" and aims to build a new model of disaster prevention in tourist destinations.

Background: "Who will protect the day-trip tourists?"

Typically, disaster prevention in tourist destinations relies on government regional plans for residents and safety management by accommodations for overnight guests. However, it is often unclear who is responsible for providing guidance or information to day-trip tourists wandering the area, dining, shopping, or driving in rental cars.

SMO Minamioguni has focused on this "blind spot of disaster prevention." Since July 2024, utilizing dormant bank account funds from the Cabinet Office, the organization has been working on tourism crisis management projects to ensure tourist safety and business continuity for tourism operators.

Project Features:

1. Training 70 Specialists across municipalities: Participants include people from inns, restaurants, tourist facilities, neighborhood associations, fire brigades, and disaster prevention organizations.

2. Strengthening Crisis Management: Participants acquire knowledge on disaster response, evacuation guidance for tourists, and information dissemination, with a focus on those unfamiliar with the terrain or non-Japanese speakers.

3. Building a Mutual Aid Network: The project aims to build a network where local businesses and residents can support each other, recognizing the importance of cooperation beyond government action.

Future Prospects:

This project does not end with certification. After training, the organization will continue fieldwork, identify hazards and evacuation routes, and maintain information-sharing systems to ensure visitors can stay safely.