Summary
Last year, Japan broke tourism records. It attracted 37 million foreign visitors, the most ever. And now it wants more. This March, the government announced plans to attract 60 million annual tourists by 2030. Yet not all Japanese are thrilled by this influx. From putting up "locals only" signs, to blocking views of Mt Fuji, to banning tourists from iconic sites, there has been a backlash against the growing throng of vacationers. Some have raised the alarm that Japan’s infrastructure and services are stretched thin by tourism.
Is Japan facing overtourism? Or is this a clash of cultures between locals and foreigners? As the government moves ahead with plans to grow tourist numbers, how will they sell this vision to those who tire of tourists?
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