In response to over-tourism, Japan plans to improve its transportation infrastructure and implement strategies to distribute the influx of tourists more evenly.
According to Travel Tomorrow, while the revival of travel and tourism is being celebrated by businesses, Japanese policymakers are confronted with the challenges of over-tourism and its impact on local communities, VisaGuide.World reports.
Due to the growing crisis of over-tourism, authorities in Japan have begun taking action and raising alarms. They consider establishing direct bus routes connecting key transportation hubs to popular tourist destinations catering to tourists’ needs.
Mount Fuji, often described as overwhelmed with tourists, faces issues such as high pollution levels, litter problems, and unprepared visitors, causing hold-ups, all of which are straining the landscape and infrastructure. For this reason, the authorities are mulling over raising fare prices during peak hours to discourage travel during off-peak times.
Meanwhile, near Hiroshima, one of Japan’s top three scenic spots, the iconic “floating” torii gateway to Itsukushima Shrine attracts millions of visitors annually. To sustain and preserve this cherished heritage, the island’s community custodians are implementing a small tax to support its maintenance, Travel Tomorrow explains.
At the same time, recognizing the pressing need to address the adverse effects of large-scale tourism, the country’s officials have reached a consensus on the necessity for action. One proposed solution involves expanding the bus and taxi fleets in major cities to enhance transit options, thus increasing flexibility and capacity.
In particular, destinations like ski resorts face severe spikes in demand during specific times of the year, often overwhelming local businesses.
To tackle this issue, implementing more direct bus routes to key destinations and considering higher fares during peak travel times are being explored as strategies to encourage travelers to choose times when the transportation network can more effectively handle the load.
Japan’s tourism industry is experiencing a remarkable resurgence, almost reaching pre-pandemic levels. The National Tourism Organization (JNTO) revealed that Japan welcomed over two million international visitors each month for four consecutive months in 2023, reaching 96 per cent of the tourist numbers in 2019.
Furthermore, the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) report shows that Japan’s Travel and tourism sector is expected to make a significant GDP contribution of $285.5 billion (JPY 37.6 trillion) this year.
Based on this report, Japan’s Travel & Tourism sector is now just 6.8 percent below the pre-pandemic peak of $306.5 billion (JPY 40.3 trillion) recorded in 2019. As the year progresses, the sector’s contribution to the overall economy is expected to reach this 6.8 percent figure.