World's 'friendliest country' to make tourists pay more than locals in restaurants

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One of the world's most cordial nations, Japan, is devising a strategy to cope with the burgeoning tourist numbers. In 2024, the country set a record for tourism as international visitors thronged to the archipelago.
Japan clinched the title of Best Country for the second year running in last year's Condé Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards, also scoring high on the friendliness scale at an impressive 93.25, placing it sixth worldwide. Nevertheless, this tourist boom presents a "new challenge" for authorities grappling with the situation.
Speaking to Fox News Digital, Hokuto Asano, first secretary at the Embassy of Japan in Washington, D. C., acknowledged: "Overtourism is a new challenge for the Japanese community. So we need to pursue how to create a win-win relationship [between] Japanese local people and foreign tourists."
READ MORE - Prince Harry's blunt words of advice from Prince Philip ahead of 'mission'
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A potential "two-tier" pricing system is being considered, posing different charges for tourists versus locals at eateries, theme parks, and attractions, potentially making services pricier for visitors, reports the Express.
Mr Asano remarked: "The price of the restaurant, sushi restaurant in Japan, even hotel - the price is also increasing. So Japanese people sometimes say [that] Japanese people cannot enjoy the domestic tourism."
He elaborated, "But there should be a difference in the taste or preference between Japan and Japanese people and international tourists. There should be a difference in the price and also product or service toward the international tourists."
Mr Asano revealed that last year's visitor numbers hit 36 million and Japan aims to nearly double this figure within five years.
He further stated: "In 2030, we want [to reach] the goal of 60 million people. We need to share our manner[s] [with those who] visit tourist destinations."
He expressed his wish for visitors: "So we would like [them to] understand [about] bringing back his or her own trash."

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