Japanese authorities take drastic measures to stop “tourists who don’t follow the rules”

Several cities around the world are taking measures to combat uncontrolled tourism (and Portugal is no exception)

After several complaints from local residents, municipal authorities in Fujikawaguchiko, a city west of Tokyo, took the decision to erect a large barrier to block the line of sight of Mount Fuji, the country’s highest mountain. The decision was taken after several incidents with tourists allegedly leaving trash behind and not respecting traffic rules. The barrier will be about 2.5 meters high and 20 meters wide and local authorities hope it will be enough to keep potential new tourists away. Visitors show particular interest in a specific parking lot, in front of a convenience store, which offers them a picturesque view of the volcano.

Speaking to Agence France Presse, a municipal official “blames” social media for what happened, as it is advertised as being “typically Japanese” and, therefore, an unmissable place to visit for all tourists in Japan. He also states that curious people even climb to the roof of a nearby dental clinic to get the best possible photo. “It’s unfortunate that we have to do this because of some tourists who don’t know how to respect the rules.” This announcement comes at a time when the number of tourists is reaching record levels, passing the barrier of three million foreign tourists in March.

According to Reuters, in January, Japan would have already received more than two million tourists, following the trend of the previous eight months. Arrivals in December reached the highest number ever for that month, confirming the definitive recovery from the pandemic, having received more than 25 million visitors. Tourism is an increasingly important element in Japan’s economy and last year tourists spent, for the first time, more than five billion yen (just over 30 billion euros) last year, exceeding the target from the government. One of the main reasons given to explain this phenomenon is due to the great devaluation of the Japanese currency, making the country a more attractive destination compared to others that could force visitors to open their purse strings.

Last month, Kyoto authorities banned tourists from strolling through the narrow streets of Gion, where traditional artists walk to and from engagements, after reports of tourists disregarding warnings and still deciding to record, photograph and touch the artists’ kimonos. . This summer, anyone who decides to walk the most popular trail towards Mount Fuji will have to pay around 9.80 euros. The number of tourists will be restricted to avoid congestion.

It’s not just Japan trying to control the flow of tourists. All over the world, governments are trying to create taxes and restrictions to “preserve” their cities: Amsterdam will increase the tourist tax from the current 7% to 12.5% ​​of the cost of accommodation. The increase applies to all establishments, from hotels to campsites. The capital of the Netherlands will also ban the construction of new hotels and restrict the number of tourists staying overnight per year to 20 million. In Portugal, for example, Portimão introduced the tourist tax in March this year and, following the example of Amsterdam, it will be applicable not only to hotel establishments, but also to campsites, according to the Portimão City Council website.