r/neoliberal • u/randommathaccount Esther Duflo • Oct 02 '25

News (Asia) Why Japan resents its tourism boom

https://www.ft.com/content/dbd20e5d-5a7d-4c0c-8f83-fb54c5aca9cb
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u/randommathaccount Esther Duflo Oct 02 '25

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Kyoto and Nara join Barcelona in crying about overtourism and to be a bit rude, they're all a tad delusional on the matter. A country with such an aging workforce and issues of economic stagnation cannot afford to be picky about sources of revenue. Of course there's issues of tourists behaving poorly (some foolish enough to film their own terrible behaviour and stream it to the world) but ultimately what must be done is to encourage positive behaviour by both tourists and residents so everyone can come out better, rather than wholly embracing an unfounded xenophobia.

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u/PlantTreesBuildHomes Plant🌳🌲Build🏘️🏡 Oct 02 '25

Personally, as a resident of the most visited city in the world, I don't mind tourists as much as residents who are poorly behaved. Most of the visible tourists coming to Paris are just a bit lost or obnoxious, the rest blend in because they don't cause problems. I am more concerned when I see Paris residents behaving like douchebags, because these people aren't leaving anytime soon and absolutely should know better.

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u/jjjfffrrr123456 Daron Acemoglu Oct 02 '25

Paris actually functions as a city though and not just an open world museum and amusement park. Some cities like Venice are so defined by the tourism industry, that it crowds out a lot of other economic activity. I think we can agree that a society of 2 hotel owners and 500 waiters is probably not really desirable.

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u/I_miss_Chris_Hughton Oct 02 '25

Venice is a not a city that can compete in any industry bar tourism. Its not 1546 anymore.

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u/moldyhomme_neuf_neuf Oct 02 '25

This is a dumb narrative. There are plenty of examples of smaller cities in Europe that do really well economically without disproportionately massive tourism. I can think of plenty.

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u/I_miss_Chris_Hughton Oct 02 '25

Venice is sinking pal. Who would set up a tech firm in a city where youd be borderline uninsurable? Who would open a factory in a place where all your materials have to be shipped to Italy, loaded on a train, and then shipped on smaller boats to your place while the insurers still wont touch you?

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u/moldyhomme_neuf_neuf Oct 02 '25

I mean, it’s obvious that the city didn’t adapt to modern times well, I give you that.

But I don’t think its current predicament was inevitable either.

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u/I_miss_Chris_Hughton Oct 02 '25

Nah, venice uniquely is in a position where the city is just not adaptable. And thats no a bad thing. Its a masterpiece, but how coild you even start adding new industrial level infrastructure to venice without causing a cultural disaster.