As some countries worry about the overtourism caused by the influx of tourists, most countries and regions in Asia Pacific see a healthy growth in visitor arrivals in July during the summer holidays.

Japan

With the return of inbound travelers, Japan started to launch initiatives to tackle overtourism in key cities. Kyoto, for example, announced a number of measures in preparation for the autumn, which is typically the peak season during foliage.

The ancient capital of Japan is expected to have a full recovery of visitors this fall. While overtourism was not new prior to the pandemic, the situation has worsened since Japan reopened its border. The newly announced measures include an increased number of buses, the suspension of one-day bus pass, and the introduction of temporary luggage storage at the train station.

In September, the mayor announced the supplementary budget plan for the fiscal year, including 140 million yen allocated for overtourism.

At the national level, overtourism also becomes an issue for the Japan Tourism Agency. The influx of inbound tourists not only causes problems for local residents but also discounts the travel experience. Mount Fuji is reported to be overcrowded with both domestic and foreign hikers.

In response to overtourism, the government now encourages travelers to visit more remote destinations, hopefully building a more sustainable tourism development in the long term.

Indonesia

Indonesia’s most sought-after holiday destination, Bali, faces overtourism again after it reopened to international visitors. The island has been seeing too many tourists in the past decade, and the government has started to look for solutions to enhance the quality and sustainability of tourism.

To curb the misbehavior of tourists, the government is reported to have several proposals, from banning tourists from driving motorbikes to imposing a cap on arrivals. It is likely that the tourist tax of IDR 150,000 (USD 9.75) per visit will become effective in early 2024.

Komodo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, intended to increase the entry fee to tackle overtourism; however, it was cancelled due to protests from tourism operators in the area. In July 2022, the Provincial Government planned to hike the entry fee from IDR 150,000 (USD 9,75) to IDR 3,750,000 (USD 244). The entry fee to Komodo National Park remained unchanged, while the daily limit of visitors remained at 200,000.

Tourism Recovery in Asia Pacific

The recovery compared with pre-pandemic figures falls between 55% and 80%, and Taiwan seems to struggle with the absence of mass tourists from mainland China.

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