Kyoto expects foreign tourists to return

Wednesday, July 6, 2022

In her 230-year-old liquor shop in Kyoto, Yasuko Fujiiis harboring motleyof feelings about the reappearance of foreign tourists who would throng the streets of Japan’s ancient capital prior to the pandemic. They would buy a good amount of whisky and wine.

Fujii’suncertainty projects a biggerinsecurity in Japan about welcoming tourists in large numbers over fears that could prompt a rebirth in COVID-19 cases, although a weak yen would be a hugeattraction for tourists and an advantage for the local businesses.

Fujiiopined that from a business perspective, the government and the people of Japan want foreign tourists to return.
Millions of travelers from China, South Korea and South-East Asia used to visit theNishiki market, where the liquor shop of Ms. Fujiiis located, before the restrictions were brought in two years ago.

Locals repeatedly felt dazed and many stopped visiting, said Fujii.

Japan’s acceptance of mass tourism over the last decade heralded an economic improvement — setting a record, 32 million tourists dropped in 2019, spending around $38 billion. However, that also fetched grievances of carelessbehavior at sites like the temples of Kyoto.

Popular for its constricted streets of tea houses and ryokan inns, Kyoto has been impacted badlydue to the nonattendance of foreign tourists, said the locals.

With the yen at its weakest in over two decades and a renewal in international travel, Kyoto’s harshly affected hotels and traditional sweet shops areanticipating a tourism rush.

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