Japan has emerged as a global tourism powerhouse, drawing millions of visitors each year to its captivating cultural and natural wonders. However, this booming tourism has brought its own set of challenges, with overtourism becoming a major concern in popular destinations like Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto.
Addressing the Growing Pains of Tourism
Concerned by the strain on local communities, Japan’s Sustainable Tourism Promotion Headquarters issued a policy document in 2018, outlining a comprehensive approach to sustainable tourism development. This document champions four crucial steps:
- Engaging local communities in tourism management.
- Providing accurate and reliable information about tourist destinations.
- Fostering communication and understanding between visitors and residents.
- Delivering clear and effective information to tourists.
Navigating the Pandemic and Beyond
While the COVID-19 pandemic brought global tourism to a standstill, it also provided an opportunity to re-evaluate tourism strategies. As Japan recovers from the pandemic, a new initiative titled “Comprehensive Measures for the Prevention and Mitigation of Overtourism” has been launched to address the influx of visitors.
This new approach focuses on tackling overcrowding and inappropriate tourist behavior while also promoting travel to lesser-known regional areas and encouraging collaboration with local communities.
A Multi-faceted Approach to Sustainable Tourism
This new strategy encompasses a variety of initiatives, including:
- Diverting tourists from buses to railways, particularly in Kyoto, to alleviate congestion. This initiative faces challenges due to Kyoto’s underdeveloped railway system.
- Introducing “Hands-Free Tourism,” a service offering luggage storage and delivery to reduce the burden on tourists. However, details regarding implementation and expected impact remain unclear.
- Expanding cashless payment options across 20 regions to cater to international tourists. This initiative faces hurdles related to businesses that still rely on cash-only transactions and language barriers.
- Embracing “mobility as a service,” a platform allowing users to plan, book, and pay for various travel services in one location. This forward-thinking approach would benefit from broader applications beyond airports.
The Importance of Balancing Economic Growth with Community Wellbeing
While some of these strategies hold great potential, particularly the promotion of regional tourism, they require careful consideration of their economic and social impacts.
- Diverting tourists from popular hubs to regional areas could alleviate pressure on crowded destinations and generate economic growth for remote communities.
- However, failure to adequately prepare and manage these regional areas could lead to infrastructural strain and negatively impact local communities.
- It is crucial to balance the economic benefits of tourism with the well-being of local communities, ensuring that tourism initiatives are aligned with their needs and preferences.
A Path Towards Sustainable Tourism
Japan’s approach to managing tourism is a promising one, demonstrating a commitment to balancing economic growth with the well-being of local communities.
By redirecting tourists to regional areas, fostering collaboration with local residents, and adopting innovative solutions, Japan is taking important steps towards creating a sustainable and resilient tourism landscape.
However, creating sustainable tourism is an ongoing process that requires constant adaptation and adjustments. By continuously evaluating and evolving its strategies, Japan can ensure that its tourism industry remains both economically viable and socially responsible.
Olesia Silanteva, a doctoral candidate in International and Advanced Japanese Studies at the University of Tsukuba, provides valuable insight into the complexities of managing tourism and the delicate balance between economic growth and the well-being of local communities.
