Japanese visitors to the popular English holiday destination, the Lake District, are from this year being asked to donate £5 (US$7.6, NT$240) to help with conservation efforts, organizers have revealed.
Tens of thousands of Japanese tourists flock to the mountainous region every year, attracted by its natural beauty and links to children’s author Beatrix Potter, creator of The Tales of Peter Rabbit.
Visitor payback schemes have run for some years to cope with the damage caused by millions of visitors to the region every year, but this is believed to be the first to target one specific nationality.
Conservation charity Nurture Lakeland, which devised the scheme with the Lake District Japan Forum, said the money would be collected by tour operators.
“The money will then be used for conservation work and environmental improvements around Lake Windermere,” a popular holiday spot in the region, said the charity in a statement on its Web site Sunday.
After making a contribution, Japanese visitors would receive a Peter Rabbit badge, added the conservation group.
Many Japanese tourists head for Potter’s former properties, Hill Top Farm and Yew Tree Farm, where many of her books were set.(AFP)
發起單位表示，今年起，日本遊客到英格蘭熱門度假勝地「湖區」旅遊時，得捐獻五英鎊（七點六美元，新台幣兩百四十元）協助當地保育。
群山環繞的湖區風景秀麗，加上創作「彼得兔故事」的童書作者畢翠克絲•波特在此地的淵源，因此每年都吸引數萬名日本觀光客到訪。
湖區每年湧入數百萬觀光客，因應他們帶來破壞的遊客回饋計畫已行之有年，但針對特定國籍觀光客收取費用還是頭一遭。
和「湖區日本論壇」共同發起該計畫的保育慈善團體「保育湖區」表示，費用由旅行業者向遊客收取。
「保育湖區」週日在其網站上發表聲明說：「這些錢會做為溫德米爾湖（湖區熱門度假景點）周邊保育及環境改善之用。」
「保育湖區」表示，日本遊客只要捐出五英鎊，就可獲贈彼得兔紀念章一枚。
許多日本遊客前往波特故居「丘頂農莊」和「紫杉農莊」（多次化身她書中場景）遊賞。（法新社╱翻譯：林倩如）
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