Some worry that World Heritage status could bring waves of rude tourists to Nagasaki’s churches

Today’s Asahi.com cover story is about the central government’s decision in January to register a group of 20 Christian sites in Nagasaki Prefecture as a candidate for UNESCO World Heritage listing. According to the article, many residents are hoping that their prefecture will be able to get an economic boost from the tourism such a status could bring, some in the Christian community are worried about the negative effects of tourism [emphasis added]:

“On one side of my heart, I am pleased with the registration. But, to be honest, I also feel that the churches should be left alone,” said Catholic priest Fumitake Torise, 46, whose Catholic Shitsu church in the Nishi-Shitsumachi district is among those on the list.

[...]

Acts of sacrilege include visitors extinguishing their cigarettes in holy water, taking photographs during Mass, trouping around during a funeral, drawing graffiti on the wall of a church, and littering.

“Such acts are insulting to our religion,” Torise said.

[...]

In response to concerns by the archdiocese about tourist manners, the prefectural government plans to hold seminars on this and other issues. It has already earmarked about 8 million yen in its fiscal 2007 budget for this program.

You mean those little water bowls by the door weren’t for putting out cigarettes? No way!

[Via FG]