The third overseas Olle trail opened October 7th in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. The new route was developed to encourage more tourists to travel to the area after the tourism industry there all but vanished in the wake of a deadly earthquake and tsunami in 2011. Mike Balfour reports.
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10,777 Miyagi residents killed in 2011 earthquake, tsunami
More than 10,000 Miyagi residents died when the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami devastated the region in 2011.
Residents are still recovering from the disaster.
Japan’s second Olle trail gives life to area residents.
INTERVIEW
Mikami Tadafumi / Director, Karakuwa Tourism Association
Residents have been depressed since the tsunami. We’re very pleased that the new Olle trail will foster exchanges with people from overseas.
<인터뷰: 미카미 타다후미 /게센누마시 가라쿠와 관광협회 회장>
"쓰나미 이후 시민들이 많이 슬퍼했고 침울했던 적이 있었는데 올레가 생김으로써 해외의 많은 분들과 교류를 할 수 있다는 것이 굉장히 기쁩니다"
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Miyagi Prefecture proposed developing Olle trail nearly 2 years ago
The Miyagi Prefecture government proposed to develop an Olle trail 22 months ago as a part of efforts to address a decrease in the number of Korean visitors and to revive the community following the quake.
The Jeju Olle Foundation accepted the proposal.
The prefecture recognizes the influence of Olle trails.
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330,000 people have walked the Kyushu Olle trail since 2012
The foundation’s first sister trail, the Kyushu Olle trail, has been popular and 330,000 trekkers have visited since its opening in February 2012.
The development of the Miyagi hiking trail didn’t come easy.
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Radiation concerns delayed development
As the trail is only 140 kilometers away from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, some have worried over possible radiation exposure.
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Decision to move ahead with project followed a year of deliberations
The decision to develop the Miyagi Olle trail came after a year of deliberation.
Then, the creation of the hiking trail took 10 months.
INTERVIEW
Suh Myung-sook / President, Jeju Olle Foundation
I believe this route is meaningful because hikers will experience sympathy for area residents and what they’ve been through, and they will respect the efforts to rejuvenate the community.
<인터뷰:서명숙 (사)제주올레 이사장>
"아픔에 공감하고 그들의 노력에 경외를 표하면서 같이 교류하고 걷는다는 것은 보통 다른 길보다도 더 의미가 있는 것이라고 생각을 합니다."
[Reporter] Mike Balfour
[Camera] Hyeon Gwang-hoon
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Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture
The opening of the Miyagi Olle Trail is a step in the healing road to recovery following the 2011 earthquake.
Mike Balfour, KCTV