tourists

Japan has once again asked its citizens what they hate most about tourists. The answers have revealed them again

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In Japan, millions of people travel every day on one of the most punctual railway networks in the world, where delays of just seconds can generate public apologies. During rush hours, some urban trains exceed levels 180% occupancyforcing every gesture inside the car to be optimized. In such an environment, even the smallest details can make a difference. One country and the same question. Japan has repeated a social experiment that we counted a year ago and that says much more than it seems: ask its citizens what bothers them most about tourists. As we said, it is not the first time he has done it and, in fact, the previous year he had already put the focus on trains as one of the spaces where the most friction is generated between locals and visitors. Therefore, one could say that repetition is not coincidental, but rather a way of measuring whether culture shock changes over time or, on the contrary, remains stable. And what happened a year later it’s revealing: The responses have evolved in nuances, but they have once again pointed out the same underlying problem. Noise as a symptom, not as a problem. If there is one fact that stands out in the new survey, it is that almost seven out of every ten respondents place the noisy conversations and disorderly behavior as the biggest nuisance caused by tourists. It is not just a question of volume, but of context: the train in Japan functions as an almost silent space, where speaking loudly or behaving expansively breaks an unwritten social norm. This same element already appeared in the previous surveyalthough now it is consolidated much more strongly (69.1% of respondents) as the main point of friction. More than a change, it is a confirmation that the culture clash continues to revolve around the same idea: the difference between more expressive cultures and a society that values ​​extreme discretion. From trains to general behavior. Comparing both years, it is surprising how little the catalog of annoyances. Poorly placed luggage, the way of sitting invading space, strong odors or blocking the doors were already present before and continue to appear now with high percentages. This suggests that these are not isolated incidents, but rather repeated patterns that locals easily identify in visitors. Even seemingly minor issues, such as do not move away when opening the doors or not respecting the logic of the flow inside the car, reinforce the idea that the problem is not punctual, but structural. Japan is not discovering new annoyances, it is confirming the same ones. The big difference: what Japan does not blame on tourists. However, there is an interesting nuance that marks a distance from the previous year and that adds depth to the comparison. When general inconveniences are analyzed (that is, those caused by all passengers), elements appear that are not attributed to tourists, how to travel drunk or certain uses of the mobile phone. In the new survey, coughing or sneezing inconsiderately It becomes the main annoyance among locals, something that does not lead the list of tourists. If you will, this introduces an interesting reading: Japan is not pointing out that visitors are responsible for everything, but clearly differentiating between its own problems and those of others. That distinction was already implicit before, but now it appears much more defined. Giving themselves away. In the end, and like last yearthe most striking thing is not what the tourists do, but rather what they reveals Japan about itself when repeating the survey. A year later, the responses once again revolve around respect for personal space, silence and collective order, fundamental pillars of their daily culture. The differences between both surveys are smaller than the similarities, which indicates that the problem is not changing because the root It is cultural and deep. Japan is not discovering new discomforts, it is confirming that its way of understanding public space continues to clash with that of those who come from outside. And by doing so two years in a row, it has made it clear that the question is no longer what tourists do wrong, but to what extent this model of coexistence can adapt to an increasingly global world. Image | tokyoform In Xataka | In 1979, Japan rediscovered a species of rabbit on one of its islands. He then perpetrated an environmental disaster In Xataka | Japan has dozens of “forgotten” islands off the coast of China: it is now preparing for the worst scenario

There is a neighborhood in Spain with so many Swedish tourists that it is already a “Little Sweden”. And it’s exactly where you imagine.

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Neighborhoods change, they transform. That has always happened. What is less common is that the change is accompanied by new accents, especially Scandinavian accents, which is what has been gaining strength in decades. Saint CatherinePalma de Mallorca. What was once a fishing neighborhood has mutated into something totally different: an area in which there are many businesses oriented to the hospitality and the real estate market and in which it is surprisingly easy to find expats arriving from cities like Stockholm. There are those who already refer to the neighborhood as “little Sweden”. ‘Little Sweden’. The transformation of Santa Catalina is not exactly new. In 2017 Mallorca Diary realized and how the Scandinavians had acquired so many stores and apartments that the neighborhood had earned the nickname “Little Sweden.” It was not a phenomenon exclusive to that specific coastal area (at expats They are attracted to Mallorca in general), but it is true that it was clearly visible in its streets. What is surprising is to see how the scandinavization of Santa Catalina has advanced in the last decade, something that makes it quite clear a chronicle published by elDiario.es. “There are few Mallorcans left”. Probably the best way to understand the change is to listen to its residents, like Antoni, a 79-year-old neighbor who, after a lifetime in Santa Catalina recognize that he hardly knows anyone anymore when he walks through its streets. “There are few Mallorcans left,” he resigns. His environment agrees with him. The man talk with the press in an area where it is not difficult to find recently renovated buildings and shop windows silk-screened in foreign languages, including English, German and Swedish. If you look a little, not far from there you can even find real estate agencies focused on the Scandinavian market and the sign of an old Swedish bakery. A neighborhood in full change. Antoni is not (far from it) the only local who notices the changes in the neighborhood. Tomeu confirm that “there are only some old businesses left” and Raúl, also raised in Santa Catalina, confirms that none of the friends he played with when he was a child no longer live there. That neighborhoods change over the decades (and that extends to both neighborhoods and businesses) is nothing extraordinary, nor exclusive to Santa Catalina, Palma or the Balearic Islands. What is curious is that this change has as one of its driving forces the landing of expats and capital of northern Europe. More than testimonials. The transformation of the neighborhood (Mallorca in general) can be followed through more than just testimonies and memories. The studies do not always allow us to go into detail about each district, but they confirm the profound changes that the archipelago has experienced in recent years. To begin with, the Balearic Islands are the region of Spain with highest percentage of foreign population. According to a report of the Funcas Foundation, 29.3% of its population was born outside of Spain. As a reference, in Madrid they represent 25.7%. In 2004, foreigners represented ‘barely’ 15.3% of the Balearic census. Expensive, but not ‘Stockholm level’. The Swedes they are very far away of being a majority group in the Balearic Islands, but for some time they have shown a special interest for the region. Almost a decade ago the local press explained that many discovered its islands as a vacation destination and, over time, chose to settle in the archipelago, attracted by its climate, quality of life and prices. “There are the small things, like having a coffee for example. In Stockholm it costs five or six euros,” recognized in 2017 Patric, at the head of a practice located precisely in Santa Catalina. “In Stockholm the square meter is around 10,000 euros and that is why Santa Catalina is still cheap. For the rest of the world the neighborhood is terrible, but for the Swedes it is quite cheap.” Agency pending. Another front that makes the transformation of the neighborhood clear is real estate. for your article elDiario has spoken with several agencies established in the area and more or less focused on the Scandinavian market, such as Mallorcabyrån Real Estatewhich presents itself as a “Swedish-speaking real estate agency in Mallorca”, or Svensk Fastighetsförmedlingwhose managers they boast of having “brought the reliable Swedish real estate model to Spain”. Escalating prices. Beyond the agencies, the Idealista portal also offers an interesting clue. The real estate portal specifies that right now the m2 in Santa Catalina-Son Armadans-Maritim is paid at 6,200 eurosfar from the 2,385 a decade ago. In fact, Idealista has registered a year-on-year increase of 14.3%. Things don’t get much better if we talk about the residential rental market. The m2 is paid at 19.7 euros5.6% more than a year ago. Rental options right now more economical In the area there is a 50 square meter apartment for which they ask for 1,100 euros per month and a 38 m2 studio for which they pay 1,150 euros. In this last case (a room without an elevator), yes, the advertisement clarifies that it is a “seasonal rental.” Why do prices increase? The transformation of the neighborhood is clear and can be followed both through testimony of its oldest neighbors as well as of the newspaper archive, which takes years strengthening the “little Sweden” label. However, not everyone is so clear that the rise in housing prices can be explained by the arrival of Scandinavian capital. “In general, the main factor behind the lack of housing at affordable prices in Palma is the shortage of supply, especially new construction,” claims Vivian Grunblatt, head of a real estate agency aimed, among others, at Swedish buyers. “In the last ten years the creation of new homes has been limited, which generates constant pressure on prices.” “And what are you doing?” There are also who raises it from another perspective, like Raúl, the horse who recognizes that there are no longer any of his childhood friends left in the neighborhood. In … Read more

that tourists stop coming

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For a couple of years, almost day in and day out, Japan has been in the news for its avalanche of tourists and the problems that this massification is leaving in the country. It doesn’t just happen there. In Italy, South Korea, Nepal, Hawaii either Netherlands They are not alien to the effects of the tourismjust as Spain is not, where they have already organized several demonstrations by the pressure that vacation rentals are having on the real estate market. Not everyone encounters that problem. In Peru it is actually worrying quite the opposite: the tourists who do not arrive. “Warning signs”. We mentioned it before. Accustomed to news about countries saturated by tourism or even look for ways to repel visitors, it is surprising to read cases like that of Peru. Over there Apoturthe Association of Incoming and Domestic Tourism Operators, has just launched a message that breaks in a certain way with the speech optimistic that the Government maintains. The association recently published a study with several “warning signs”. Specifically, two. The first is that, despite the gradual recovery of visitors, Peruvian tourism still not going back to their pre-pandemic levels. The second, that foreign travelers seem less and less interested in spending their vacations in the Andean country, which is benefiting other destinations. “Loss of competitiveness”. The study de Apotur does not leave much room for interpretation. After analyzing the searches of millions of people from several countries, including Spain, its authors warn that the interest that Peru arouses as a vacation destination experienced a year-on-year decline of 14% in 2025. The result, insists the employers’ association of Peruvian tour operators, is “a loss of competitiveness” that favors other nations in the region. “The study detects a shift in demand towards regional destinations that today compete directly with Peru. When travelers discard the country, 26.1% opt for Colombia, 25.4% for Costa Rica, 20% for Ecuador and 19.8% for Mexico, markets that are capitalizing on cultural and natural tourism that was previously directed to Peruvian territory,” stand out from Apotur. In case there were any doubts, its president, Claudia Medina, insist in that it is not that international tourism is declining, but rather that it is looking towards other horizons. But… Why? Peru has an enviable landscape, cultural and heritage wealth and has one of the main tourist attractions in America, the ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchuconsidered one of “the seven wonders of the modern world” along with other treasures such as Chichén Itzá, the Taj Mahal or the Great Wall of China. So…why is it “falling interest” of foreign tourists, as Apotur itself warns? What is the distancing due to? The key would be more in travel management than in what the country offers. “Sector studies show that there is a high interest in visiting the country. However, more than 70% of potential travelers change their decision (postpone or cancel) due to uncertainty about their trip. Factors such as blockades, lack of predictability, informality and operational limitations at the entrances to Machu Picchu directly affect confidence in the destination,” regrets the head of Apotur in statements collected by the newspaper Management. Seeking security. The key would be precisely that, the perception of “security”a value that does not refer so much to the crime rate as to the reliability that the country offers at the tourist level. When traveling, people want everything to go as planned, without surprises. And that is where Peru loses strength. “Among the reasons that most worry travelers are informality in tourist services (31.2%), citizen insecurity (30.9%) and social instability (29.1%), as well as infrastructure problems and logistical disorder in some destinations,” remember from the association. “The study warns that these elements do not affect the attractiveness of the country, but rather the perception of risk.” The example of Machu Picchu. The message from the tour operators comes after Peru’s great heritage treasure, Machu Picchu, has been involved in controversy over its management. Last year New7Wornders warned Lima that the citadel risked losing its place on the list of the “New Seven Wonders of the World” if it did not solve the problems that threatened it. Which is it? The organization specifically pointed out its saturation, the lack of sustainable management and “irregular practices” related to inputs. The Peruvian General Comptroller’s Office itself has shown its concern about the “tourist overload” that both the citadel and the Inca Road Network suffer. The Government of Peru already has made a move and made an effort to strengthen security and entry control, but what it has not managed to avoid is that the controversy spread beyond its borders. And it hasn’t been the only one. The country wants to create an airport in the region that could shoot 200% tourism. One figure: 3.4 million. That does not mean that Peru’s tourism industry is doing poorly. Recently the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism confirmed that in 2025 the country will receive 3.4 million of international tourists and its objective is that this year this mark will be far exceeded, reaching four million. When announcing the data, the central Executive also showed its intention to diversify the offer, also betting on religious, nature, adventure and meeting tourism, distributing the flow of visitors throughout the country. The problem for Apotur is that, even if the set objective is reached and four million tourists are reached in 2026, the figure would be “insufficient”. Competition earrings. “We are growing, but we are still not competing at the level that Peru can,” claims Medina before remembering that in 2019, before COVID turned the sector upside down worldwide, Peru registered around 4.4 million international tourists. It is not just that the country has not yet reconnected with the demand that the coronavirus once destroyed. The group also insists that Peru is losing ground in favor of neighboring countries that “have already exceeded their pre-pandemic levels.” In the background: the cost that this has for the country’s economy, which Apotur estimates … Read more

Japan has taken a look at the data after the disappearance of thousands of Chinese tourists and it has been said that it is not so bad

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In the recent tourist chronicle of Japan there is a date marked in red. November 7, 2025. That day the prime minister Sanae Takaichi opened the box of thunder announce that Tokyo would not hesitate to deploy its troops in case China invaded Taiwan. The statement fell like a bucket of cold water on Beijing, which further made clear its discomfort at the diplomatic level, asked its citizens to avoid traveling to the country of the rising sun. Taking into account the enormous weight of Chinese visitors in Japanese hotels, that it sounded like a catastrophea punch in the gut for its thriving tourism industry. Well not so much. The latest data of the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) show that this is not the case. It is true that the country receives fewer (much fewer) Chinese visitors than a year ago, but the gap they have left in the hotels has not taken long to be filled by clients from other nations, especially from Asia. A percentage: 6.4%. February has been a good month for the Japanese tourism industry. At least as far as the arrival of travelers is concerned. He last balance from JNTO shows that throughout the month the flow of visitors grew by 6.4% compared to the same period in 2025. From 3.26 million it went to 3.47. The accumulated of the first two months of 2026 is also positive. Japanese tourism now totals around 7.1 million visitors, 0.3% more than last year. Said like that it doesn’t seem like a big deal. The weakness of the yen and its enormous popularity in networks, added to the recovery of the international tourism market after the pandemic stop, have turned Japan into everything a tourist phenomenon. One on a roll and accustomed to record numbers. In 2025, without going any further, the country will receive 42.7 million of foreign visitors, a historical mark that places the nation above 40 million for the first time in its history. So… Why is it news that it rose 6.4% in February? Why does that percentage matter? Countries February 2026 Evolution (%) Accumulated 2026 Evolution (%) TOTAL 3,466,700 +6.4 7,064,200 +0.3 South Korea 1,086,400 +28.2 2,262,400 +24.7 China 396,400 -45.2 781,700 -54.1 Taiwan 693,600 +36.7 1,388,100 +26.1 Hong Kong 233,900 +19.6 433,900 -1.2 Thailand 117,000 +0.2 232,100 +8.7 Singapore 51,300 +21.4 99,800 +13.4 Malaysia 59,700 -8.0 132,200 -5.5 Indonesia 51,200 +8.9 125,200 +13.6 Philippines 71,700 +7.5 150,900 +8.7 Vietnam 61,000 -17.4 113,800 -8.4 The answer: China. What is surprising is not that Japan continues to receive more tourists. The surprising thing is that it does so despite how much the Chinese market, one of its pillars, has become very complicated. We mentioned it before. Takaichi’s statements in November in which he implied that Japan would not sit idly by if Beijing forced its way into Taiwan caused an earthquake that jumped from diplomacy to the economy and from this directly to tourism. As part of their response to punish Takaichi, in mid-November the Chinese authorities they advised its citizens not to travel to Japan. They were even canceled dozens of flights and they refunded plane tickets. From politics to hotels. It didn’t take long for the boycott to be noticed in Japanese hotels. If the flow of Chinese tourists grew at 22.8% in October 2025, the following month (after Takaichi’s speech) that percentage had deflated to 3%. In December it went directly into the red, with a drop in 45.3% which was expanded to -60.7% in January. In February (latest JNTO data available) the balance again marked another puncture of the 45.2%confirming the trend. The percentage is better understood when talking about people: between January and February Japan received 921,700 fewer Chinese than in the same period in 2025. And the alarms went off. The problem is not only the drop in visitors, which is already alarming in itself. If the Japanese sector began to worry, it is because China represents a strategic market. And doubly so. To begin with, it is because of its weight. Along with South Korea, the Asian giant is the main fishing ground for visitors to Japan. In 2025 it added 9.1 million tourists21% of the total. Only South Korea mobilized more. And the data only reflects mainland China. Travelers from Hong Kong (another big market) go separately. The other reason why the Asian giant is so important for Japanese businesses is the profile of its tourists. Not only do many travelers leave China, those who pack their bags to spend their vacations in other countries also do so with full wallets. JNTO itself calculate that last year Chinese tourists spent about 25% more than other travelers during their stays in Japan, something that is especially noticeable in shopping centers. After Takaichi’s words about Taiwan (and the diplomatic storm between Tokyo and Beijing) there were businesses in the sector that they recalculated their forecasts billing, assuming double-digit drops in its earnings estimate. In the absence of Chinese… Other markets are good, which is what the JNTO statistics reflect. Despite the initial fear that Beijing’s boycott would hit Japanese tourism, slowing its unstoppable growth streak, Japan has managed to rebalance the sector. After experiencing a overall flow drop of visitors of 4.9% in January, last month that percentage was corrected and the industry grew again. In total in February they visited Japan about 3.5 million of tourists. How is it possible? This increase actually has little mystery. The JNTO tables show that the 45.2% drop in the influx of Chinese tourists has been offset by an increase in visitors from other nations. The flow of South Koreans shot up, for example, by 28.2%, that of visitors from Hong Kong by 19.6%, that of Singaporeans by 21.4% and Indian tourists by 22.7%. Ironically (or not) one of the markets that has grown the most is Taiwan. Throughout February, 693,600 tourists from the Asian island visited Japan, 36.7% more than in 2025. This is relevant data because Taiwan … Read more

a summer with even more tourists

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If we have learned anything at this point, it is that wars are like dominoes. Once one begins, a series of springs are activated that expand its consequences. In less than two weeks, what began as a bombing by the US and Israel in Iran has ended up escalating to a conflict in the Persian Gulf, has mined the image security that nations such as the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait have built for years and has triggered the price of oilthreatening to infect the rest of the economy until reaching shopping baskets. Now this earthquake could have another unexpected effect: increasing tourist demand in Spain, a country that has been chaining for years record numbers and aspires to surpass the barrier of one hundred million of international visitors. Of wars and travelers. It has little of mystery. When you go on vacation (and pay for it) you look for rest, good food, comfort, landscapes, heritage, beaches, museums… The “menu” may vary from one tourist to another, but what it does not include (usually) are kamikaze drones and the constant threat of attacks by an Islamic regime, which is what is happening now in the Gulf. What began as a US-Israeli offensive in Iran has ended up escalating in a matter of days to affect neighboring countries such as the Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, directly hitting their economies. The example of the Emirates. It is not just that Iran is punishing its Middle Eastern neighbors for their more or less veiled support for the US, it is that Tehran has known how to hit where it hurts most. Your attacks have affected to energy installations and planted the instability in the Strait of Hormuz, turning oil into a weapon of war; but they have also undermined the image of reliability that nations like the UAE have built for themselves (with a checkbook) for decades. The clearest example Dubai probably leaves it. In just one week it went from being the world’s mecca for expats to seeing foreigners paying hundreds of dollars or driving for hours and hours to cross the border with Oman and leave the country. It only took a series of Iranian attacks that forced the operations of the hubs Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports. Less reliable destinations. A few days ago Mabrian, a company dedicated to analyzing tourism markets, asked how the Iran war is impacting the sector and obtained a series of striking conclusions. The main one is that the attractiveness of the Persian Gulf destinations has been seriously affected. Especially in the eyes of travelers from two key markets: Europe and the US. To be more precise, the Perception of Safety Index (PSI) plummeted by 81 points (out of 100) in Bahrain, 56.7 in Oman and 54.9 in Qatar. In all three cases the indicator marked minimums. Although they have come out somewhat better, the scenario is not buoyant for the UAE (-48.3 pts) and Saudi Arabia (-13.6). At least that was the photo at the beginning of March, after the attack that killed Ali Khamenei. A contagious trend. The most curious thing is that not only the countries directly hit by Iran are penalized. Others that are more or less nearby and with powerful tourism sectors do the same. Mabrian appreciate a shock wave that has reached Egypt, Jordan and Türkiye. “Although they are not involved, they experience a ‘contagion’ side effect attributable to their proximity and perceived exposure as part of the conflict’s sphere of influence.” The case of Jordan is especially serious. Barely a month ago his PSI marked 77.6 points out of 100. When Mabrian published his new reportOn March 6, that indicator had plummeted 30.3 points, although with “gradual signs of recovery.” Despite its distance, Türkiye’s PSI had also suffered, losing 25.8 points. In the case of Egypt, which shares a long border with Israel, the perception of security decreased 7.8 points. A turbulent market. That countries like the UAE, Bahrain, Jordan, Turkey or Egypt lose attractiveness for tourists is curious, but… Could it affect Spain and other European countries in some way? For Mabrian the answer It is clear: yes. A week ago the firm appreciated “the first signs of change in European and American tourist demand”, a “detour” of travelers who choose to look beyond the Middle East. And that directly involves Spain. “The escalation of conflict in this region is beginning to redirect demand from major European markets and American travelers,” comments Mabrianwhich warns that the trend is more pronounced among US travelers. After the attack on February 28, Kuwait’s PSI contracted in that market by 87.3 points, that of the UAE by 79.2 and that of Arabia by 17.8. Even Egypt fell 32.6. The company warns that the short-term outlook is not rosy. Where to travel? That is the question that many tourists will probably ask themselves in the coming weeks. For the company, the answer is clear: customers from crucial source markets, such as the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy or the US, will be “redirected” to various points. Either they will look for destinations closer to their own countries, which would favor Spain especially in the case of Italians and Germans, or they will explore options in Asia. Mabrian warns Yes, this last trend will be conditioned by the price of the flights. Destinations such as Thailand and Sri Lanka have not been immune to the shockwaves of the Gulf War either. Over the last few days, news of European tourists has circulated (including spanish) that have been affected in those destinations. Not because they suffer from the direct impact of the conflict, but because their connections with Spain depended on stopovers at airports in the Middle East (Dubai, Doha…) that have been hit by Iranian forces. Mabrian still appreciates a third possibility and that is that there is some demand that shifts towards “substitute” destinations such as South Africa, Maldives, Peru or Brazil. Canceled trips. Mabrian is not the … Read more

A century ago Denmark built an island to defend its capital. Now it is full of tourists and is sold for ten million

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The world has started 2026 slope of an island linked to the Kingdom of Denmark, but Greenland is not the only island dependent on Copenhagen that makes headlines. In it Øresund Strait There is a small Danish island that in recent weeks has also sparked interest due to its history, status and (above all) ownership. His name is Flakfortet and in this case, unlike Greenland, there would be no problem with Donald Trump controlling it. Of course, first you would need to go through the cash register and pay 10 million euros. The reason: Flakfortet is actually an old military fortification built on an artificial island and in private hands that has just gone up for sale. What has happened? that the Danish real estate market has incorporated an unconventional piece: a maritime fort built on an artificial island. That’s what they advertise on their page. Lintrup & Norgarta Danish firm specialized in real estate that for a few weeks advertise the sale of the Flakfortet fortress, located in the Øresund Strait. The property is offered for 74.5 million of Danish crowns, equivalent to about 10 million dollars. “The island has modern facilities and historic structures and is visited by thousands of people each year,” highlights the agency. The announcement has attracted the attention of media outlets such as the German newspaper Bildthe specialized medium Yacht or the Danish public broadcaster TV2which specifies that the complex reaches 30,000 square meters (m2) and there are around 10,000 built. Among its facilities, the island includes a large marina and a heliport. But what is Flakfortet? A vestige of the First World War. And a huge and picturesque reminder of the turbulent start of the 20th century. Flakfortet is a maritime fortress built on Saltholmrevan artificial island built from tons and tons of stone, concrete and sand in the Saltholm Strait. In fact, it is located between saltholm island and Copenhagen. Flakfortet was not the result of a whim or megalomania. It was promoted at the beginning of the 20th century, after the Defense Agreement of 1909 with which an attempt was made to improve the fortifications (land and sea) that protect Copenhagen from enemy attacks. To be more exact, his works were developed between 1910 and 1916. And what was it used for? The idea was to shield neighboring Copenhagen by sea. Hence, Flakfortet was projected as a true fort, capable of hosting around half a thousand soldiers and equipped with powerful cannons. Danmarks Nationalleksikon remember which in its day was equipped with howitzers, half a dozen cannons and anti-aircraft artillery. However, its role during the two great conflagrations of the last century was rather modest. In fact, the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, with the project still uncompleted, frustrated the plans to equip it with modern howitzers. In the 40s it was occupied by the Wehrmacht and in the 50s it returned to Danish hands, although without much success. At the end of that same decade it closed as a naval anti-aircraft fort and during part of the 1960s it hosted the HAWK 541 Squadron of the Danish Air Force. Over time it was rented to the Copenhagen Sailing Union and was converted into a marina in the 1970s. And in recent decades? His military past is behind him. After the Danish army decided to abandon the fort the weapons were dismantled and the casemates abandoned. As the 20th century progressed, the soldiers gave way to sailors who arrived aboard sailboats, tourists and history lovers fascinated by the fortification’s past. The next major chapter of his chronicle was written in 2021, when Denmark sold the island to Malmökranen AB, a Swedish company that acquired it for around 400,000 euros. It may not seem like a lot of money, but the company had to invest significantly more to remodel the facilities and modernize its services, which includes a restaurant, a desalination plant that supplies the island with drinking water, and generators. These improvements, added to a ferry service that connected the island with Copenhagen and the interest aroused by the fort’s military past, explain why Flakfortet attracted up to 50,000 visitors in high season. Good business, right? If we ask Malmökranen right now, the business seems to involve more the sale of the island than its direct management. And it’s not something new. In 2015 the complex already looked for a buyer without much success. More than a decade later, its owners have decided to try again, asking for even more money for facilities that have a port and heliport. The agency in charge of the sale wait that the island will attract the interest of specialized investment firms or millionaires looking for a “secluded and quiet” property. Nor do they rule out that the Danish State itself decides to recover Flakfortet because it considers it “a critical infrastructure” and its location. If it is finally an individual who takes over its reins, they should keep in mind that they cannot do whatever they want with the old fort: since 2002 It is considered a historical monument, so any significant work must have the OK of Heritage. The island must also remain open to the public. Images | Wikipedia and Google Earth In Xataka | China has been dumping tons of sand into the ocean for 12 years. And now we are seeing islands emerging in the middle of nowhere

Japan has been wanting fewer tourists for years. Now he fears China is making his wishes come true

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Japan has been choked by foreign tourism. And it is understandable. The weakness of the yen, the reactivation of demand after the pandemic stop and the enormous popularity that the country has achieved on networks has triggered its flow of visitors to record levelsstirring up the debate on he oversight and generating discomfort in some particularly congested destinations, such as Kyoto, nara or Osaka. To stop it, there is already talk of a tax increase. There are even cities looking for ways to reduce the flow of international tourists. Now, for reasons that have little or nothing to do with the tourism market, Japan is encountering the collapse of demand in its big market: China. The question is whether that is a blessing or a threat to your economy. Pack of tourists. The data is incontestable. Japan has become one of the most popular destinations among those planning their vacations. Last year the country received 42.7 million of foreign visitors, an absolute record that shatters the data from 2024, when it fell just short of 37 million. Beyond the year-on-year comparison, the data is interesting for two reasons. First, because never before had the Japan Tourism Organization (ONTJ) counted more than 40 million visitors annual. Second, because the data leaves the 31.9 million of 2019, the last year before the pandemic, far behind. If nothing changes, the Government plans to reach the 60 million this decade, which will translate into a powerful injection of resources into the Japanese economy. In 2025 alone, foreign travelers spent more than $60 billion. More than money. The problem is that this flow of tourists not only translates into full planes, hotels with the sign ‘no places left’ and hoteliers and merchants satisfied with their sales. The international tourism boom has generated tensions in some destinations especially congested, leaving almost almost surreal episodes, such as the one lived in Kyoto. There the authorities have had to prohibit “paparazzi tourists” from accessing one of the most emblematic points of the city. The reason: so that they do not harass the geishas. It is not the only proof of the tensions that are emerging due to tourist saturation. In Fujikawaguchiko the authorities, unable to contain the hordes of travelers eager to “hunt” the best selfiethey chose to install a fence that blocks the views of Fuji. In Fujiyoshida they just canceled your festival Sakura because it saturates the city with visitors who clog traffic, sneak into homes and leave trash in parks. And in Yamanashi they decided years ago start charging to ascend Fuji to preserve the mythical mountain. And the Taiwan crisis arrived. Whims of geopolitics and international diplomacy, Japan has just found that this record flow of visitors could receive a severe setback. And all on account of something that has little or nothing to do with the tourist market: Taiwan. To understand it, we have to go back to November 7, when the Prime Minister of Japan, Sanae Takaichi, warned during a parliamentary debate that Japan would not hesitate to mobilize its self-defense forces in case China entered Taiwan by force. Although the Japanese Government assures that its position remains the same as always, the truth is that Takaichi’s words broke the “strategic ambiguity” that Japan has maintained for decades. And that was not liked one bit in China. The relationship between Beijing and Tokyo became strained to such an extent that the Asian giant responded with more than complaints diplomatic: canceled concerts by Japanese artists, postponed the premiere of movies, he claimed the pandas on loan to Japanese zoos and restricted its valuable rare earth exports. What does it have to do with tourism? That in its response to Japan, Beijing also played one of its great economic assets: tourism. The Chinese authorities they advised its citizens to avoid Japan and even canceled dozens of routes airlines with the country. In November the BBC reported that some Chinese airlines were offering their customers refunds for their flights to Japan. Such a movement would not have much importance if it were not for the fact that China is one of the main sources of the Japanese tourism sector. The Asian giant is one of its big markets issuers, along with Korea. According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, in 2024 China was the second largest source of tourists visiting Japan. concentrated about 19% of all demand, only behind Korea (24%). The data is also completed with the 7.3% of Hong Kong and the high weight that Taiwan also has in Japanese tourism. The flow from the Asian giant is key, however, for another reason: as remember The New York TimesChina not only moves many tourists but its tourists spend a lot in Japan. Goodbye Chinese tourists. Although the open conflict between China and Japan is recent, its effects have not taken long to be noticed in the tourism industry. TNYT assures that in December the flow of Chinese travelers already plummeted by 45% compared to the same month in 2024. And the situation does not seem to be improving in the coming months: Japan has fallen on the list of the most coveted destinations for the Chinese to enjoy their Lunar New Year holidays. There are those who already warn that Japanese hotels will welcome 60% less of Chinese. Why is it important? Beyond the percentages, this ‘puncture’ in the Chinese market represents a setback for a sector (Japanese tourism) that until recently seemed unbeatable. Despite how popular Japan continues to be in the rest of the world and the record data it is collecting, its balance of incoming tourist spending registered a drop of 2.8% during the last three months of 2025. It is not a high percentage, but it represents the first decline in more than four years. In November, Bloomberg already warned that the diplomatic row with China threatened to cost Japan’s tourism sector 1.2 billion in income. If the data were not conclusive in itself, it comes at a … Read more

Months ago, Mallorca began fining drivers in its ZBE. Now he has a problem with German tourists

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Joachin Fischer is one of the many (many) German tourists who like to enjoy the landscapes, weather and coves of Mallorca. For decades he has been visiting the island at least twice a year. If his name has stood out among the thousands of compatriots who spend their summers in the Balearic Islands, it is because a few months ago posed in front of the cameras of the press showing a fine, a sanction of 200 euros sent by the Palma City Council for (and this is the key) having accessed the Low Emissions Zone (ZBE) from the city with your car. fischer claims who drives a Tesla suitable for driving on the BZE, but that is not the only feature of his vehicle. Another (crucial) is that it has a foreign registration, which partly explains the fine. Your case is important because is not the only one German tourist who claims to have suffered a similar sanction in Palma. What has happened? That the activation of the low emissions zone (ZBE) in Palma is having unexpected protagonists: German tourists. The Balearic capital launched zoning a little over a year ago and months later, in julybegan to apply sanctions to drivers who do not respect it. Until then, nothing out of this world. At the end of the day, Palma City Council has only adjusted to what the Climate Change Law for cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants. The surprise came after time, in Novemberwhen it was found that the measure was causing friction with tourists who arrive in Palma with their foreign-registered cars, even the zero-emission ones. Why’s that? The news gave it Mallorca Diary last fall: tourists who arrive in the city with their own vehicles risk fines if they enter the streets delimited in the ZBE. And this is basically because they do not have the option of registering their license plates to process the permit. Even in those cases where they drive models that meet the technical requirements. “They are not authorized to enter the ZBE, since the DGT system is not universalized throughout the EU and each country has its own classification method, so the level of emissions of cars with foreign registration cannot be automatically verified,” They explained in November from the municipal Mobility area of ​​Palma. “They may be exempt only if they register in the system and justify their residence, meeting the established requirements.” And what is the problem? That last nuance. In the website that Palma City Council dedicates to the ZBE includes a specific section on “vehicles with foreign registration plates” in which two points are especially highlighted. The first is that “vehicles registered outside of Spain are not classified according to the criteria of the environmental label of the General Directorate of Traffic.” The second, that drivers of vehicles with foreign registration interested in accessing the ZBE must process a “authorization”a permit designed primarily for residents and owners of properties, businesses or parking spaces. The question is… And the tourists? Many of the thousands of Germans who spend their summers in the Balearic Islands rent cars with Spanish license plates with a badge that allows them to circulate without problem through the Palma ZBE, but there are also cases like Fischer’swho prefers to disembark with his own vehicle. What’s wrong with them? In November Fischer counted to the Balearic press that he had received a fine of 200 euros from the City Council for driving his electric Tesla where he shouldn’t have been. “I only entered Jaume III for a moment to pick up my 14-year-old daughter after shopping in El Born,” he lamented the man, who assures that he prefers to use his private car and not a rental one because it “amuses him” and gives “greater flexibility” when planning his trips. “Not being able to register my car, I thought that my green ecological device and the electric car license plate would be enough to avoid the fine, as is the case in low-emission zones in German cities. But that was not the case.” Is he the only one affected? It doesn’t seem like it. On those same dates the newspaper Mallorca Zeitung assured that he was receiving “more and more messages” from readers with fines. The Mallorcan press has also echoed complaints from those affected who speak of “discrimination” against Europeans with foreign cars or point out how complicated it is to register a vehicle on the list of authorized license plates, especially for those who do not speak Mallorcan or Spanish. One of the arguments put forward by critics is a note posted on the DGT page which explains that, although Spain does not issue badges for foreign vehicles, that does not have to be a problem. “If your car has an environmental label in its country of origin (Germany, Austria, Denmark, France) it is considered to have the Spanish equivalent,” he clarifies. There is who also remembers that Palma is not the only city council (neither in Spain nor in Europe) that applies mobility restrictions in the center, and insists: the rules are the same for everyone and “ignorance does not exempt from guilt.” Images | Sergiy Galyonkin (Flickr) and Đorđe Pandurević (Unsplash) In Xataka | Houses are so expensive in the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands that they are expelling even Germans and British people from the market.

a new airport for millions of tourists

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It is not easy to get to Machu Picchu. And it makes sense. The Incas wanted the ancient citadel to be a safe, sheltered place, a bastion sheltered by the Eastern mountain range of southern Peru. The problem is that today Machu Picchu is no longer a remote town but one of the most powerful tourist attractions on the planet. Since 2007 it has been considered one of the ‘Seven Wonders of the World’ and every year it receives hundreds of thousands of visitors, many arriving from other countries after connecting flights and traveling for hours by road or trail. For that to change in Peru they are building an airport that could shoot 200% the flow of visitors in the region. There are those who believe, however, that it will not come for free. And not only because of its cost in hard cash. Its detractors warn of the impact that the infrastructure will have on the environment. What has happened? That Peru is building a new and ambitious airport in the department of Cuzco, more specifically on the outskirts of Chinchero. The project is not entirely new. His works started around 2018 and, if they are fulfilled the latest forecasts from the Government, the terminal will begin operating between the end of 2027 and 2028. The key is in its location. The Chinchero-Cusco International Airport (AICC) will be in the vicinity of the Sacred Valley of the Incasto a few dozen kilometers in a straight line from Machu Picchu. Why’s that? The location of the AICC is not coincidental. Not far from there, in Cusco, the Velasco Astete airfieldwhich in 2025 mobilized slightly more five million of passengers. With the new Chinchero infrastructure, however, the Peruvian authorities want to go one step (or several) further. The objective is to serve between 8 and 12 million annual users and consolidate itself as a regional reference. “It’s a hub that has to be developed in the south, in such a way that, after Jorge Chávez (Lima airport), Cusco is the connection center of South America”, claims Paola Marím, head of the General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics of the Ministry of Transport and Communications. How will it affect tourism? A few days ago the BBC dedicated an article to the future airport in which it states that its objective is to attract 200% more visitors to the area, which would help boost the tourism sector, but would also aggravate the pressure that the Sacred Valley already suffers. That percentage (200%) is striking, but it is even more powerful when two pieces of information are remembered. First, in recent years the Alejandro Velasco Astete aerodrome has already seen its demand increase exponentially. Last October, the Peruvian Corporation of Airports and Commercial Aviation (Corpac) actually calculated that the terminal would close in 2025 with a “historical record” of passengers: more than five million of users, 28.4% more than before the pandemic. Is there more? Yes. The second piece of information that helps to understand the importance of the Chinchero airport is found a few dozen kilometers away, in Machu Picchu, a tourist hub that is already suffering the effects of touristification. Despite the Incas’ attempts to turn it into a remote citadel, today it is a tourist icon where hundreds and hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world pass through every year. According to the Andina Agency, only in October did it touch the 150,000 visitorswhich brought the forecast of closing 2025 with more than 1.5 million of tourists, thus exceeding pre-covid levels. That’s good, right? It depends on who you ask. In recent months Machu Picchu has been news precisely because of its saturation, a problem reminiscent of the one suffered by Mount Fuji (Japan), Giza (Egypt) or European tourist centers such as Florence either Amsterdam. Years ago the Inca citadel was close to sneak onto UNESCO’s list of endangered heritage. And that has not been the only wake-up call for the risks facing the site. In 2025, the General Comptroller’s Office warned of the “tourist overload” who suffers from Machu Picchu and just a few months ago New7Wornders warned to Peru that, if it does not correct the situation, the ancient Inca town could lose its label of “New Wonder of the World.” The truth is that the Government has made an effort to protect the citadel, reinforcing its security and the control and sale of tickets. Is it the only problem? No. Right now getting to Machu Picchu is not exactly easy. BBC reporter Alexandra Marvar remember that when he visited the citadel he had to get into a taxi, a train and finally a bus. And that was just the final stretch. Before, foreigners usually take two flights: one international, to Lima, and another national that takes them to Cusco. With the AICC that will change radically, but the project has generated controversy. And not only because of its tourist impact or the delays that has been accumulating. As remember Marvar There are operators, guides and indigenous communities who consider that the new airport is not a good idea. The reason: its probable cultural and environmental impact. In fact, the project is already altering areas such as Urquillos, where there are cornfields that are being sold and developed. Beyond the loss of identity, there is concern about how this increase in pressure will affect infrastructure or even the water supply. These are concerns that come from long ago (before the pandemic, signatures were collected to stop the project), but they are gaining strength as the works progress. Images | Google Earth, Cynthia Winward (Unsplash) and Jackie Hope (Unsplash) In Xataka | Japan has begun canceling festivals designed to attract tourists. The reason: they attract too many tourists

can’t handle the tourists anymore

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A few years ago the inhabitants of Fujiyoshidaa city in the Yamanashi prefecture, in Japan, realized that they were missing out on a tourist treasure. The town is just a couple of hours by train from the capital and enjoys privileged views of one of the country’s great icons: Mount Fuji. With those wickers and taking advantage of their own landscapes, in 2016 Local authorities promoted a festival focused on the flowering of cherry trees. Now Fujiyoshida has a problem: his plan to attract visitors has worked surprisingly well. So much so that has decided to cancel it. What has happened? That at Fujiyoshida they have encountered a curious problem. In 2016, the authorities promoted an initiative to attract visitors from the rest of Japan and other countries. Now, ten years later, the plan is working so well that its proponents have backed down. In fact they have canceled it. The reason is simple: Fujiyoshida has become a very popular destination among foreign travelers, which in turn translates into the arrival of millions of yen. The problem is that its neighbors have concluded that even that flow of money does not compensate for the inconvenience of being invaded by hordes of tourists. But what about that… why? Basically because Fujiyoshida has ended up becoming a huge photocall outdoors. The city is very close to Fuji and also has large areas of cherry trees that become a real spectacle during the spring, during the flowering season. In 2016, those in charge decided to add both ingredients (the views of Fuji and the traditional Sakuracherry blossom) and promote a festival in Arakuyama Sengen Park. There, tourists will find cherry trees, a pagoda and, above all, impressive views of Fujiyoshida with Fuji in the background. everyone’s dream instagramer who wants to brag about their trip to Japan. What is the problem? That Fujiyoshida hit the nail on the head. Their festival was a success. Tremendous. According to precise According to the Kyodo News agency, during the cherry blossom season the city welcomes more than 10,000 visitors a day. Throughout the year the total count is around 200,000 tourists. Not bad for a population that in 2020 did not exceed 50,000 residents. The avalanche of tourists is so brutal that, despite its enormous economic impact, the city has decided to cancel the festival this year for the sake of something more important: preserving “the quiet life” of its residents, now “threatened”. Is it that serious? It seems so. At least if we pay attention to the local and international press. The BBC speaks from traffic jams, garbage problems and challenges directly related to bad visitor behavior. To be more precise, he cites cases in which tourists have sneaked into houses to use the bathrooms or even defecated in gardens. “We have an intense feeling of crisis,” confess the mayor of the city. From looking for a way to attract visitors, Fujiyoshida has become “overwhelmed” and saturated by an “excess of tourism” that “seriously impacts” the daily lives of its neighbors. And what is he going to do? The authorities have decided cancel the festival this year, although they are aware that after a decade of tradition it is likely that tourists will continue to arrive during the months of April and May to enjoy the views from Arakuyama Sengen Park. Hence they have decided to reinforce security and deploy extra measuressuch as installing portable toilets, strengthening security and establishing a system of temporary parking. Whatever it takes to control the congestion of tourists around the park and prevent the avalanche of visits from altering the lives of the neighbors. Is it a specific problem? No. And that is why the Fujiyoshida case is so interesting. The general recovery of international tourism after the pandemic, the yen weakness and above all the popularity it has gained on the networks has made Japan a coveted destination for tourists from half the planet. In 2025 the country will receive 42.7 million of foreign visitors, almost 16% more than in 2024 and well above the 31.9 million before the pandemic. This boom has not always been easy to digest in the busiest areas, such as in Kyoto, where there have been problems with tourists that harass the geishas. Probably the most popular case is Fujikawaguchiko’sa town that even installed a large screen that blocked the views of Mount Fuji. The objective was the same: to remove the attractiveness of a place that had become a hotbed of tourists. Beyond Japan, other countries such as Italy either even Spain They have moved to protect themselves from the avalanche of tourists and their impact. Images | Giuseppe Milo (Flickr) and Olivier Bruchez (Flickr) In Xataka | Japan has found the three most serious problems with the massive arrival of tourists. And none of it has to do with tourists.

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