Viewpoint: The overtourism strain on Kyoto: Economic policies and community impacts.

This article examines overtourism in Kyoto, Japan, highlighting its social, environmental, and economic impacts on local communities. It discusses challenges such as overcrowding, waste management issues, public transport strain, and housing unaffordability, alongside government responses including the "Mind Your Manners" campaign, dual pricing strategies for tourists, increased accommodation taxes, and changes to tax refund processes. Despite these measures, problems like gentrification, reduced resident quality of life, and homelessness persist, prompting policies focused on adaptive reuse of infrastructure, stricter short-term rental regulations, sustainable transport improvements, and waste reduction incentives. Kyoto is presented as a case study for balancing tourism growth with cultural preservation and resident well-being.