Photo/Illutration Foreign tourists cross the Togetsukyo bridge in the Arashiyama district of Kyoto. (Yoshiaki Arai)

A Venetian friend of mine sent me a link to black-and-white photos taken in Venice in the 1940s. Small boats leisurely ply the canals with their cargoes of water and household items. Children are shown playing in a public square.

Attached to the images was my friend’s wry message: “Once upon a time, normal life existed in Venice and there were no tourists.”

This “City of Water” is now plagued by overtourism.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the historic center of Venice, which was home to about 50,000 people, was visited every year by 20 million tourists, including day-trippers.

The bridges and piazzas teemed with sightseers. House rents skyrocketed, driving old-time residents out.

Homes were converted into privately operated lodgings, and restaurants became takeaway establishments. The cityscape itself changed.

In Japan, tourism is back in full force now, making me wonder if Kyoto, Kamakura and Lake Kawaguchiko should start being concerned about overtourism.

Last month, the number of foreign visitors to Japan reportedly topped the pre-pandemic level for the first time.

The government now wants the annual number to exceed the pre-pandemic level of 31.88 million by 2025.

But promoting tourism isn’t just about raising the number of visitors.

According to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, sustainable tourism is dependent on the three factors of “good to live in, good to visit, welcoming to visitors.”

He says he will support initiatives that encourage foreigners to visit, without sacrificing the locals’ quality of life.

Now that the movement of people is already back to pre-pandemic levels, Kishida has no time to waste.

European nations charge tourist taxes to take care of trash disposal and other costs, and regulations concerning private lodgings are being reinforced.

However, tourist industries are struggling everywhere, and no countermeasure can be expected to succeed without the cooperation of local communities.

Here in Japan, I think the only way to go is to first determine how many visitors we can handle, not how many we want to come.

Kishida’s three factors for sustainable tourism are easier imagined than acted upon.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Nov. 23

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Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.