Japan attracts tourists while worrying about destination overload

While promoting tourism to attract foreign visitors, Japan also considers solving the problem of overcrowding an urgent issue, starting with localities or destinations that are attracting too many tourists to create balance in tourism development.

For the past five consecutive months, the number of foreign visitors to Japan has consistently exceeded 3 million per month. In July alone, despite warnings of a super earthquake in the entire Nankai Trench and Tokyo, along with severe heat and localized flooding, the number of visitors to Japan still reached more than 3.29 million. Of these, Chinese visitors led the way with more than 776,000, followed by South Koreans with more than 757,000.

Not only festivals, tourist attractions, entertainment venues... in Japan are full of foreign tourists, even places that are not tourist attractions, such as small parks in residential areas, sidewalks in districts far from the center that are usually very quiet and peaceful, and playgrounds for children... have also become resting places for foreign tourists. There are even many foreign tourists who drink beer and alcohol and then sleep on the sidewalks.

Japan attracts a lot of tourists every time the cherry blossoms bloom.

The increase in the number of tourists is greatly affecting the people and businesses of areas with many tourists such as Tokyo, Osaka, Yamanashi, Shizuoka, Hokkaido, Okinawa... with a series of problems such as: waste, intrusion into private areas to take photos without permission, overload of accommodation facilities and transportation services, public disorder, shortage of necessities, epidemics, the risk of international terrorism... The story about necessities is quite serious, because this year Japan has had a bad harvest due to natural disasters in many places, rice is not enough for domestic needs, but every month there are millions of tourists who also need food.

Adjusting tourist behavior

However, it must be affirmed that the large number of tourists is also bringing huge revenue to Japan. In addition, the Japanese are polite and hospitable, so wherever they go, tourists are warmly welcomed. On the one hand, continuing to promote tourism to attract foreign visitors, on the other hand, Japan also considers solving the problem of overcrowding as an urgent problem; starting with the localities with many foreign tourists must be self-governing, in the traditional spirit of "local autonomy".

So far, Japanese tourism management agencies and local governments have also applied many measures to limit the negative impacts caused by overtourism, starting with tightening the law. For issues or behaviors that are within the scope of existing laws, the Japanese use the law to deter and handle them. For example, for acts of theft, smoking in the wrong place and littering..., which are stipulated in the law, Japanese authorities will handle them according to the law, and at the same time, propagate to tourists to know the violations to avoid.

A crowded shopping district with tourists in Osaka, Japan.

Some new problems or behaviors arise that have not been regulated by any law, so the Japanese have introduced sub-laws to deal with them. For example, some inner-city districts of Tokyo or Osaka have had to introduce many new regulations for residents and tourists such as: prohibiting gathering at night in flower gardens and parks to drink and have fun, prohibiting getting drunk and sleeping on the street, prohibiting cycling after drinking alcohol... In general, there have been many new measures, but none of them are truly sustainable and effective. In the future, Japan will have to continue to face this situation as foreign tourists continue to increase.

Balance in tourism development

According to Mr. Saito Tetsuo - Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan, tourism is one of the important pillars in Japan's development strategy, and at the same time a breakthrough for the economic development of localities. Through tourism, Japanese people are exposed to and absorb the cultural quintessence of other countries and territories, thereby preserving and developing their indigenous culture. Furthermore, in the context of the current complex world situation, tourism brings an increasingly important value. That is, it contributes to enhancing international exchange, contributing to deepening mutual understanding between nations.

Japan is looking to spread tourists from its tourist hotspots to newer destinations. Pictured is Sakai City, not far from central Osaka but little known to foreigners despite its many unique wonders.

According to forecasts, the number of foreign tourists to Japan will continue to increase sharply. The Japan Tourism Agency has just announced the results of a survey conducted in 23 countries and territories, which said that the main reason for the rapid increase in the number of foreign tourists is the depreciation of the Yen, and many people have the desire and ability to pay for a trip to Japan. In addition, Japan is still promoting tourism cooperation with many countries, including Vietnam. Recently, at the Conference of Tourism Ministers of Japan, China, and South Korea, an ambitious goal was set. That is, to increase the number of tourists to the three countries from 30 million/year in the period before the Covid-19 pandemic to 40 million/year by 2030.

While continuing to promote tourism, Japan is also making efforts to address tourism overload, aiming to regain balance. The country seeks to distribute tourists from places with too many visitors to places that have not been visited by many tourists. Currently, Japan has begun this process with steps such as: building and promoting new tourist destinations with many heritages that attract tourists, increasing the number of direct flights connecting Japanese localities with other countries, coordinating with other countries to take advantage of the natural and cultural advantages of the localities to create more added value for tourism products, and sharing tourism information.

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/nhat-ban-vua-thu-hut-khach-vua-lo-ung-pho-qua-tai-diem-den-20240918090321258.htm