Soon, getting to one of Japan’s most beautiful islands will be harder.
Iriomote, in Okinawa prefecture, will confine guests to 1,200 every day to forestall overtourism and safeguard the territory of Iriomote wildcats, an imperiled species local to the island, as per a declaration from the Okinawa prefectural government.
Iriomote, which only has 2,400 residents, received approximately 300,000 visitors in a typical year prior to the pandemic. That number will be significantly reduced by the new limit, which allows only 33,000 tourists to visit annually.
The swell in guest numbers at busy times of year has prompted water deficiencies and car crashes, the last option of which have harmed and killed a portion of the wild felines, which are a broadly safeguarded animal groups in Japan.
However, the restrictions on overtourism have not yet been formally enacted; for the time being, local officials “urge (tour companies) to cooperate.”
The unspoiled natural beauty of Iriomote, the second-largest island in Okinawa and a member of the Yaeyama island group, is renowned.
The island has a warm climate all year round because it is closer to Taiwan than most of Japan. This makes it a popular place to snorkel, scuba dive, swim, and hike.
The prefectural government confirms that five UNESCO World Heritage sites around Okinawa will be restricted in the coming year, including Mount Komi and the Nishida River, in addition to the general visitor cap on the island.
Advance reservations, timed entry, and tourist caps may apply to those sites.
After the pandemic, Japan took longer than other nations to reopen its doors. The nation started inviting little gatherings of supported sightseers in June 2022 preceding completely returning four months after the fact.
Tourism is back, but so is overtourism
Before the pandemic, the term “overtourism” was popular in the travel industry. Now, as more and more tourists return to their home countries, it is a hot topic.
Indonesia’s Komodo Island is home to the Komodo dragon, an endangered species that requires protection.
By charging visitors 3.75 million rupiah ($252) to visit the island, the Indonesian government has made it harder to see the largest lizards in the world.
Initially, the island had intended to boycott sightseers completely yet chose a quantity and expense framework all things considered.
And overcrowding is a problem in more places than just Asia.
The “stay away” campaign has been coined as Amsterdam’s new tourism strategy in an effort to shed its reputation for “sex and drugs.”
This initiative focuses on particular categories of “nuisance tourists,” such as potential UK bachelor party planners.
For instance, in the event that an English web client looks for an expression like “bar creep Amsterdam,” a video promotion will spring up advance notice them of the possible gamble of terrible ways of behaving abroad, such as going to the medical clinic or getting captured.
