KYOTO — “Another bus bound for JR Kyoto Station will arrive shortly,” announced a bus driver at a bus stop near Kiyomizu-dera Temple, one of Kyoto’s most popular tourist sites. The throng of foreign visitors unable to board appeared somewhat resentful as the bus departed, stranding them in scorching heat. Such excessive growth in tourism has damaged the environment and disturbed residents’ everyday lives, such as by causing traffic congestion. This phenomenon, dubbed “tourism pollution,” has emerged as a worldwide problem, and can also lead to disappointment for visitors. In Kamakura, a popular destination for foreign tourists, traffic congestion has become a serious issue, primarily on weekends.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer September 09, 2018 08:03 UTC