Is Kyoto's Tourism Revenue an Illusion? Profits Stolen by Illegal Minpaku, Unlicensed Taxis, and Foreign Capital

Although Kyoto is one of Japan's leading tourist cities, it is currently facing financial deterioration and challenges in the tourism industry. Despite the recovery in inbound demand, a major issue is that tourism revenue is not being sufficiently returned to the local community, while the burden on residents continues to increase.

The Problem of Overtourism

Under normal circumstances, an increase in tourists should bring significant benefits to the local economy and residents, but this has not translated into local economic advantages. Instead, the impact of overtourism is straining the living environment of residents and affecting the preservation of historical buildings and cultural resources.

The Value of the Kyoto Brand

To protect the value of the Kyoto brand, it is essential to improve the quality of tourism and provide high-value-added services rather than selling out. While maintaining tradition and culture, it is necessary to establish appropriate rules for tourists and implement systems that prioritize public safety.

Illegal Minpaku and Unlicensed Taxis

However, illegal minpaku (private lodging) and unlicensed taxis are rampant in reality. These crimes are difficult for the police to crack down on because operators often claim they are just 'picking up an acquaintance.' Furthermore, by making payments online in advance, money transactions within Japan are not recorded, making it difficult to leave evidence of illegal activities.

Land Acquisition by Foreign Capital

Additionally, the progress of land acquisition by foreign capital is pushing Kyoto toward a crisis where its original value is being lost. These entities often acquire land for purely speculative purposes without considering their contribution to culture or the local community, leading to an increasing number of cases where historically valuable buildings are converted into commercial facilities or speculative properties.

Resale When Value Drops

Once land is treated in such a manner, its cultural value is compromised, and the living environment of local residents is negatively affected. Furthermore, when the value drops, it is easily resold, creating a vicious cycle that undermines the stability of the region.

History Built by Our Predecessors

To address these issues, it is necessary to strengthen appropriate regulations and monitoring systems, and to establish mechanisms that return tourism revenue to local residents and the maintenance of cultural assets. The tourism industry is part of the history built by our predecessors, and it should not be taken lightly by modern people for the sake of short-term profit.

The Future of Kyoto

The future of Kyoto should aim to establish its position not just as a tourist city, but as the 'safest and most comfortable tourist destination in the world.' It is necessary to strengthen cooperation with local police and security companies, and to implement monitoring systems to ensure the rapid detection of and response to illegal activities.

Kyoto Someday

Furthermore, it is necessary to redefine the essence of the tourism business and adopt a policy that prioritizes sustainable development over short-term profit seeking, with the premise of protecting history. Rather than creating tourist spots crowded with tour buses, it is important to brand Kyoto as a place that the wealthy from all over the world dream of visiting someday.

We will organize the issues of Kyoto's financial problems, the impact of overtourism, the reality of illegal minpaku and unlicensed taxis, and the challenges of land acquisition by foreign capital, and delve into the measures necessary for Kyoto to become the world's best tourist destination in the future.

Kyoto Aims to Be the World's Best Tourist Destination

Not limited to Kyoto, Japanese culture was built by our predecessors, and it is important to preserve it appropriately. We who live in the modern era have a responsibility to be grateful to those predecessors and to pass on this culture to the next generation by continuing to protect it. The existence of such precious culture forms the value of Japan as a nation, and cherishing each of these elements leads to connecting that value to the future.

Kyoto, in particular, is not just a place where old buildings remain; it is a place where culture is passed down by the people who live there, and where many long-established businesses with hundreds of years of history exist. Culture has value precisely because it has a long history, something that other tourist destinations cannot imitate. It is, in itself, a part of Japan's history and a treasure that must be protected.

Redefining the Tourism Business

Furthermore, the tourism business must be premised on protecting Kyoto's value. Destroying history through the kind of bargain-basement pricing that leads to overtourism is never acceptable. We must firmly prevent companies and foreign capital that do not understand this and seek only profit from entering the market and damaging local culture. To maintain Kyoto's history and culture, it is essential to establish appropriate regulations and foster an awareness of protecting local value.

What Kyoto should aim for is to establish its status as the "safest and most secure tourist destination in the world." To achieve this, it is necessary to enhance brand value, attract high-quality tourists, appropriately redistribute tourism revenue to reduce the burden on local residents, and prioritize public safety to realize a city that is comfortable for both tourists and residents alike.

Kyoto has the potential to establish its brand as the world's premier tourist spot by leveraging its cultural value and history. It is important to protect that value in a sustainable way without selling it short, and to pass it on to the next generation. This is a responsibility imposed on the Japanese people living today, and it will be the key to ensuring that Kyoto remains a city to be proud of for the future.