KOFU, Japan - The Japanese unit of U.S. ride-hailing company Uber Technologies Inc. and a municipality at the foot of Mt. Fuji signed an accord Friday to cooperate in measures against overtourism, aiming to address such problems as traffic congestion and littering.
It is the company's first such partnership with a Japanese municipality, Uber Japan Co. said.
"We would like to balance the growth of tourism with local livelihood and well-being. I hope this (cooperation) will write the book for tourist destinations across the country," Shiro Yamanaka, general manager of Uber Japan, said at a signing ceremony.
Uber will set pickup spots away from congested areas and use advertisements on the Uber Taxi app to raise awareness about local customs and travel manners, the two entities said in a statement.
"Since we have so many (foreign tourists), it is reassuring to know that Uber will help us using their international business expertise," Fujiyoshida Mayor Shigeru Horiuchi said.
The city in Yamanashi Prefecture faces growing problems associated with booming tourism including littering, traffic congestion and illegal parking around popular tourist spots.
