Conservation Fellows

Masaru Takayama

Mr. Masaru Takayama’s passion for ecotourism and ecolodge started in Costa Rica in the 90s when he was just a nature-loving traveler. Utilizing his knowledge in energy conservation, green building, natural science, and experience in the outdoors activities especially with marine environment, he founded the first ecolodge association in the world, Japan Ecolodge Association (ECOLA), to promote the concept of ecotourism and eco-lodging industry uniting responsible tourism and green buildings in Japan. The environmentally-friendly accommodation standard developed by ECOLA ihas been recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). Since January 2018, ECOLA has merged with Asian Ecotourism Network (AEN) with all the rights, obligations, and the duties of ECOLA.

Working as a community-based ecotourism consultant, ecolodge advisor, auditor for sustainable tourism certification bodies, and a fully-licensed responsible tour operator/travel agency ‘Spirit of Japan Travel’ in Kyoto, Masaru serves a number of key positions in the organizations both home and abroad pertinent to ecotourism and sustainable tourism including AEN, the authority in promoting authentic ecotourism in the region. Masaru tries to apply his knowledge to the existing and emerging ecotourism and sustainable tourism destinations, tour operators, and eco-accommodation to improve sustainability.

Masaru’s action agenda is to demonstrate that a responsible tour operator can help bring tangible benefits to the communities for conservation of nature, recovery from natural disasters, and improvement on their well-being as well as contributing to preserve a tangible cultural and historic asset by converting a 80-year-old historic building Shunyoso on Awaji Island, Japan, into a community-based tourism facility incorporating sustainability. In addition, Masaru is a founding chair of Japan Alliance of Responsible Travel Agencies (JARTA), one of its kind in Japan, established in 2018 with a prospect to accelerate the positive changes in responsible tourism strictly exercised by the Japanese fully-licensed travel agencies. JARTA is a national operator for Green Key and Blue Flag programs.

As recognition of his contribution in Ecotourism and Sustainable tourism, we are dedicating Villa Number 18 to Masaru Takayama at Sukau Rainforest Lodge.