10 times Asia overtourism and ‘limits’ to hospitality became a problem in 2025
From Japan to Indonesia, excessive tourism has created issues in some of Asia’s travel hubs this year
1. Bali fumes at frugal tourists who spend time but less money
Locals in the Indonesian holiday hotspot of Bali have urged authorities to filter out cost-conscious travellers who spend more time but less money on the island, in a shift towards quality tourism.
2. ‘Can’t allow this to continue’: Japan’s tax-free tourist shopping under fire
A group of lawmakers has proposed scrapping Japan’s decades-long tax-free shopping system designed to lure foreign tourists to the country, arguing the benefit has been plagued by fraud and has deprived the government of a significant source of revenue.
3. Johnny Somali’s trial in South Korea puts spotlight on ‘nuisance influencers’
The trial of an American content creator whose disruptive and culturally insensitive acts sparked outrage in South Korea has fuelled calls for sterner responses to these so-called nuisance influencers.