Europe is closing tourist information centers, but in Asia they are thriving
Many travelers connect tourist information centers with maps and help in finding a nearby public bathroom.
But Tammy Mermelstein counts her visits to tourist information booths as some of the highlights of her recent vacation to Japan.
The Houston-based mother of two spent more than a year planning her family's three-week trip to Japan. She loves showing off the book of stamps she's collected from tourist information centers and other tourist attractions around the country.
In some parts of Europe, tourist information stands are becoming a thing of the past, writes CNN.
Paris said goodbye to its last tourist information center, near the Eiffel Tower, in January. Scotland has announced that it will close all of it by the end of 2025.
Tourism officials in both destinations cited social media and widespread access to smartphones as a reason for closing physical offices. Both tourism bodies have moved to a "digital-first" model, shifting their focus to Instagram and TikTok, as well as setting up dedicated WhatsApp channels for travelers with specific questions.
But while some industry insiders are already writing obituaries for personal tourist support centers, destinations around Asia are actually increasing the number of traveler help desks.
Xiang Li, director of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, says Asia's tourist information centers are booming because of the different mentalities of travelers in the region.
South Korea had about 300 tourist information centers in 2015. Now, there are 638, reports KosovaPress.
And South Korea isn't the only Asian country where tourist information centers are booming.
Japan opened 250 more between 2018 and 2024, citing overtourism and the need to cater to travelers in more languages. The government recently announced a goal of reaching 60 million tourists a year by 2030.
