Name: Japan Erects Wall Blocking Mount Fuji View to Ward off Tourists | Vantage with Palki Sharma
Uploaded: 2024-04-25T02:20:08.000Z
Duration: 5 min 40 s
Description: Thousands of YouTube videos with English-Chinese subtitles! Now you can learn to understand native speakers, expand your vocabulary, and improve your pronunciation...

To many, Japan is one for the bucket list, roaming the rainforests, eating tempura in Tokyo, picnicking under cherry blossoms, and finally getting that Mount Fuji money shot.

This iconic shot features two things, a convenience store in the foreground, which are ubiquitous in the country, and Japan's most famous landmark rising from behind, Mount Fuji.

This is Japan's highest mountain, and this shot is very Japanese, so to say.

It shows two things with a completely contrasting effect.

So this view has become incredibly popular.

Tourists travel for hours to get a picture here, but that's not all that they do.

Some of them climb onto roofs of other houses and shops there.

Some park vehicles illegally and haphazardly, all in a rush to get that perfect snap.

For years, officials have repeated warnings, they've put up road signs, but matters have not improved.

(Speaking in Japanes) Tourists begin to gather to take photos as early as 4am or 5am, and they can be loud.

The locals are struggling just to walk on their own streets.

(Speaking in Japanese) Kawaguchiko town is built on tourism.

I think the town itself welcomes visitors, as long as they behave in a manner that is respectful.

But there are a number of things about manners that are a little worrying.

Tired of rowdy tourists, Japan is putting up walls.

Quite literally. Authorities are constructing a big black barrier.

The barrier will be 8 feet tall and about 66 feet long.

That's the same length as a cricket pitch.

And with this, Japan hopes it can overcome over-tourism, meaning too many visitors at a particular destination.

33 million people are expected to visit this year.

And for the first time ever, Japan saw more than 3 million tourists in the month of March.

Post-pandemic travel restrictions are over, and the government is pushing to attract visitors.

This year, tourism will break records globally.

It will add $11.1 trillion to the economy.

Before the pandemic, ruined travel for the world, 2019 held the record.

This year will surpass that at more than $11 (trillion).

At the local level, 142 countries will exceed their 2019 tourism performance.

Think hotels, tours, transportation. They will all gain from the direct spending.

Hotels will buy sheets, towels, or groceries.

Tourists will splurge on trinkets or experiences.

Globally, 1 in 10 people are employed in jobs that relate to tourism.

So from local vendors to big players, everyone benefits.

But if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Because over-tourism also means overcrowding.

More traffic, infrastructure limitations, soaring housing costs, pollution.

It's a long, long list and a tricky problem.

Countries want tourists, but not too many.

So they're battling over-tourism with over-the-top solutions.

We're only four months into 2024, but these are some of the headlines from across the world.

Apart from putting up a wall, Japan has banned tourists from visiting parts of Kyoto.

Venice has started charging day-trippers.

Milan is considering a ban on pizza and ice cream at night.

Amsterdam has banned construction of new hotels.

Hawaii is thinking about charging a hefty tourist fee.

This Mediterranean island sees 16,000 tourists every day.

16,000 tourists every day, so you get the gist.

Some countries hate tourists to the point that they're willing to spit in your beer.

But at the risk of receiving hate mail, we want to clarify one thing.

We don't want to dissuade you from travel.

Traveling is not wrong, but doing it irresponsibly is.

Travel is not just about the hot vacation spots or that one Instagram-worthy picture from that one location.

Traveling is also about expanding horizons, choosing quality over quantity, and following sustainable practices.

So where can and should you go this year?

To make it easier for you, we've compiled a list.

Here are the countries crumbling under over-tourism.

If you visit them, be mindful of how you spend your time.

Additionally, these countries are reportedly not friendly to tourists.

So think carefully before planning a trip.

Even if you ignore both the lists, many destinations still remain.

On top of that, here are some countries welcoming tourists right now.

So if you can, support them, because my point is simple.

If you look beyond what Instagram and TikTok say, you have a lot of options.