Overtourism is causing headaches for authorities and local residents worldwide. Japan is one country that is battling surging numbers of tourists. The weaker yen has meant people are flocking to see Japan's sites and sample its world-famous cuisine. A town near Mount Fuji has a drastic measure to combat the problem. The town is at the foot of Fuji. It is being inundated with sightseers taking selfies in front of a convenience store, with Fuji-san in the background. Local authorities will erect a giant mesh fence to block the view of Japan's iconic mountain.
A local official said the tourists was creating problems for residents. These include trash in the streets, traffic being blocked, and security guards being employed to control selfie takers. The official said of the fence: "It is regrettable that we had to take such measures." The fence will be 20 metres long and 2.5 metres high. Other places in Japan are also battling overtourism. Locals in the ancient city of Kyoto cannot get on overcrowded buses. Areas of Kyoto have been closed to tourists to stop people harassing geisha, in a problem called "geisha paparazzi".
Try the same news story at these levels:
Overtourism - Level 4 or Overtourism - Level 6
Sources- https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/04/26/japan/society/town-sets-up-screen-to-hide-mount-fuji/
- https://edition.cnn.com/travel/japan-mount-fuji-view-barrier-tourists-intl-hnk/index.html
- https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/26/fujikawaguchiko-town-japan-block-mount-fuji-view-overcrowding
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