How a sightseeing livestream of Kyoto sparked a controversy online


Arashiyama, in the Kyoto region of Japan. — nicholashan/IStock.com/AFP

In this time of pandemic, cities and monuments worldwide are trying a variety of means to keep in touch with potential future tourists. To showcase the beauty of the region of Kyoto in Japan, train company JR West and e-commerce giant Alibaba organised a virtual tour of several of the area's nature sites for the Chinese market. However, the move sparked ire among residents, as a Japan Today report shows, with local Japanese populations fearing that Chinese tourists will flock en masse when the archipelago reopens to foreign tourism.

To help relaunch tourism in Kyoto, JR West and Alibaba chose to livestream a visit on video platform Taobao Live, strolling through Arashiyama, one of the most popular sites in Kyoto among tourists. Chinese Internet users were able to discover through their screens the natural wonders of this pristine site. The virtual tour attracted over 100,000 live viewers, a real success!

Subscribe now and receive FREE sooka plan for 1 month.
T&C applies.

Monthly Plan

RM13.90/month

Annual Plan

RM12.33/month

Billed as RM148.00/year

1 month

Free Trial

For new subscribers only


Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.
Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
   

Next In Tech News

Vietnam orders social media companies to provide user identities
Facebook and Instagram users in Europe can opt for less personalised ads
Samsung Electronics shares hit 4-year lows on Trump risks, AI chips
Instacart forecasts weak fourth-quarter on tepid consumer spend
Apple to announce AI wall tablet as soon as March, Bloomberg News reports
Spotify forecasts profit above estimates on cost cuts, steady user growth
OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman returns to ChatGPT maker
ValueAct takes $1-billion stake in Meta, source says
Alphabet's Waymo opens autonomous ride-hailing service to all in Los Angeles
Fed's Waller: Stablecoins could bring benefits to financial system

Others Also Read