Although Japanese citizens made up more than 80% of the 50 million visitors to Kyoto in 2019, the lack of foreign tourists still dealt a hefty blow to Kyoto, which has a population of 1.45 million – similar to that of Barcelona.(File pic shows a Japanese retail store)
KYOTO: Once weary of hordes of foreign tourists crowding its narrow streets and ignoring etiquette, many in Japan’s ancient capital of Kyoto are longing for their return – missing the revenue they brought before the country largely shut its doors to overseas visitors two years ago due to the pandemic.
That includes Shoei Murayama, a former city assemblyman and author of the 2019 book The day Kyoto collapses from overtourism, in which he warned the travel industry would push out local businesses and residents.
Uh-oh! Daily quota reached.
