We opened in July 2022, but at the time the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was strong, and the number of visitors did not increase as much as we had hoped. In addition, although there are facilities such as hot springs and restaurants within the resort, we were unable to create a sense of unity between them, making it difficult to create a synergistic effect. Furthermore, as we continued to operate, we discovered the issue that customer needs and the services provided were not aligned. For example, the restaurants were focused on quality, and as a result, they were mainly in the high price range, making them a place that was difficult to enter, especially for local people. Based on these reflections, we are currently working on improvements such as increasing media exposure and reviewing services and tenants, and the number of customers is gradually increasing. It is purely joyful to see the happy faces of the local people, related companies, and others around us.

Although we were able to attract a world-renowned bakery, there was a bakery run by a local resident nearby, so we ended up competing with the local resident. It is important to create a buzz in order to enliven Awaji Island, but it is meaningless if it has a negative effect on the local people. Reflecting on our lack of consideration, we have become more conscious of coexistence and symbiosis with the local people.
If I had to mention one difficult episode, it would be about accommodation. There were requests from customers that "it would be great to have accommodation," but because it is a national park, development itself was a no-go. However, after continuing negotiations with the government after the opening and conducting multiple trials, we were finally able to make it possible to sleep in one's car. Because this is an unprecedented project, a "National Park-PFI Project," there were many difficulties in making it a reality, but I believe that this is where AQUAIGNIS AWAJISHIMA 's hidden potential lies.

Above all else, I have always valued the idea of "contributing to the revitalization of the Awaji Island region." I've often come to Awaji Island and have some good friends there, so I've always had a strong desire to enliven the place. And this time, the people who invested and provided financing were connected to this project and Awaji Island, and they had a strong desire to "contribute to their hometown" and "let many people know about the charms of Awaji Island." Hearing the thoughts of these people and receiving their important funds has only strengthened my own desire to "enliven Awaji Island," and it has also given me the energy to push the project forward.
Currently, the resort is contributing to revitalizing the local area by employing local people and using locally produced ingredients.

I would like to establish a position as a base for spreading the charms of Awaji Island. It is not enough to just think about ourselves, but ideally we should promote the people involved and the whole of Awaji Island. I would like to increase the number of people who fall in love with Awaji Island by creating a flow that encourages people to stop by various tourist spots on the island and enjoy Awaji Island's specialties from this place.

I would like to use this experience to work on regional revitalization in various parts of Japan. There is a lot of talk about the overconcentration of resources in Japan, but I believe that there are many attractions and opportunities in the regions. Like this project, we can raise investments from people who want to contribute to the region, create facilities that allow people to fully experience the charm of the region, create jobs, and return profits to the region and investors. I would like to build such ecosystems in various regions and use them to revitalize those regions and Japan as a whole.

By matching people who want to contribute to the local community with facilities that bring out the charm of the region, we aim to achieve "regional revitalization" that benefits everyone involved.