Iriomote Hotel aims to become Japan's first ecotourism resort on Iriomote Island, a World Natural Heritage Site, and will promote the "Night Time Economy" (*1) in order to protect the island's environment and promote the local economy by spreading the time and place of visits. In response to the problem of over-tourism, which has an impact on the natural environment, we will promote the dispersion of areas visited by tourists by expanding our offers about how to enjoy the island, especially at night and in the early morning. This project is also carried out in conjunction with our initiative to encourage longer stays, where all reservations must be 2 nights or more, aiming to contribute to the revitalization of the local economy and establishment of the island's ecotourism cycle.
(*1) Any economic activity, such as tourism or entertainment, that takes place between sunset and sunrise
Background
Surrounded by coral reef waters and covered 90% by jungles, Iriomote Island is home to a thriving tourism industry that takes advantage of its rich nature. However, over-tourism, in which tourists are concentrated in popular areas and the natural environment can be compromised, has become a problem. Iriomote Island has a large number of day-trippers from Ishigaki Island, and as of 2015, the lodging rate was approximately 22% (* 2). Since this problem was evident even before the pandemic, it is likely to accelerate further due to the increased demand for travel now. In the Iriomote Island Tourism Management Plan formulated in March of this year, the maximum number of visitors per year was set at 330,000, and the maximum number of visitors per day was set at 1200 (* 3). In the case of day trips, tourists are concentrated in popular areas, but as the rate of overnight stays increases, the time spent on the island and locations can be spread out, and the effect on the local economy can be expected (* 4). With this, Iriomote Hotel decided to focus on "Night Time Economy," which offers attractions at night and early morning. We aim to establish an ecotourism cycle on the island by providing content based on the idea of a "night-time economy" in addition to the promotion of staying for more than 2-nights.
(*2) Taketomi-cho Iriomote Ecotourism Promotion Cousil, "Iriomote Island Tourism Management Plan"
(*3) 2023.03 Amami Oshima, Tokunoshima, Northern Okinawa and Iriomotejima World Heritage Site Council, "Iriomote Island Tourism Management Plan"
(*4) Tourism consumption is about 23,013 yen for overnight travelers whilst for day travelers, it is about 1,733 yen so it is larger for overnight travelers. (From "Iriomote Island Tourism Management Plan")
Characteristic 1: Distribute the place of a visit to prevent an increase in environmental impact
Taking advantage of its rich nature, nature experiences are popular on Iriomote Island. There are concerns about the impact on the natural environment due to the concentration of visitors to sightseeing spots. Night-time programs, on the other hand, take advantage of a different area than during the day, where for example, there is no trekking to the jungle depths at night. By expanding the programs of the "Night Time Economy" and spreading the number of sightseeing spots, we can increase the lodging rate while preventing an increase in the impact on the natural environment.
Characteristic 2: Contribution to the local economy
By staying on Iriomote Island, guests will have more opportunities to participate in activities and use the restaurants on the island, where a wide spread of economic effect can be expected. To make it even more effective, activities are coordinated with local nature guides and commissioned to them at our hotel. The hotel's restaurant is designed with the assumption that only 60% of guests would use them to encourage the use of restaurants on the island. The enjoyment of nighttime content by tourists will enhance the economic effect of the region.
Characteristic 3: Increase in customer satisfaction
Iriomote Island, blessed with abundant nature, offers a wide variety of activities that can't all be experienced just with a day visit. Also, at night and early in the morning, guests can enjoy the atmosphere of the island, an atmosphere unlike the daytime, and it is most likely for one to meet nocturnal creatures. By staying on the island, guests will be able to have a deeper understanding of the lifestyle and culture for a more fulfilling trip. According to Iriomote Hotel customer satisfaction data (*5), a stay of two nights or more is more satisfying than a single night, and the more nights you stay on the island, the higher the customer satisfaction.
(*5) Results of a survey by hotel guests who stayed during January to March 2023
Nighttime Programs at Iriomote Hotel
Iriomote Hotel offers programs that guests can enjoy from sunset to sunrise. A new addition to the nature tours is the "Night Safari: Jungle Tour" that started this July. It is a tour that takes advantage of the hotel grounds and the nearby areas to explore the jungle at night, where the atmosphere is different from the daytime. 
For this winter season, from December 1, 2023 to January 21, 2024, a nature program about Yaeyama Green frogs. This frog can only be found in the Yaeyama Islands, reaching its peak breeding season in winter, making it most active in this season. The characteristic of the Yaeyama Green frog is its beautiful croaking sound so through this program, guests can get a deeper understanding of its ecology.
About Hoshino Resorts Iriomote Hotel
Address: 2-2 Uehara, Taketomi, Yaeyama, Okinawa
Number of Rooms: 139
Check-in: 3:00 pm / Check-out: 11:00 am
Price: Starts from 14,000 JPY (per night per person in a 2-person room, includes taxes and breakfast)
Directions: 45 minutes by ferry from Ishigaki Terminal to Iriomote Island Uehara Port and 10 minutes by car from Uehara Port
About Hoshino Resorts
Hoshino Resorts was first established as a Japanese inn/ryokan in 1914 in Karuizawa in Nagano Prefecture before it began the operation of other resorts in Japan. Today, it has evolved into a highly influential hotel management company and is run by 4th-generation family member Yoshiharu Hoshino. Providing a unique experience focused on the local charms of each destination and a high level of omotenashi, Japanese-style hospitality, the company has expanded rapidly out of Karuizawa since 2001 and now operates more than 60 accommodations both in and outside Japan with one of the following categories: luxury hotel brand “HOSHINOYA,” hot spring ryokan brand “KAI,” countryside resort hotel brand “RISONARE,” city tourism hotel brand “OMO,” free-spirited hotel brand “BEB,” or other unique lodgings.
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