Abstract
This study analyzes tourist behavior during the recovery process of tourism demand following the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey was conducted from April 2020 to October 2023, encompassing tourist destinations and business areas in the Kansai region of Japan. The research sites included the following locations: Kyoto Station, Osaka Station, Shinkyogoku, Kiyomizu Temple, Kinkakuji Temple, Arashiyama, Byodoin, and Todaiji Temple. This study examined mobile phone network statistical population data to deduce the number of visitors at specific tourist destinations and examine their characteristics. Despite the pandemic, the declining tourist population quickly recovered in October 2020 in business and commerce areas. However, the recovery in dedicated tourist areas proceeded more gradually. Regarding visitors’ place of residence, the population at Kyoto Station and Osaka Station in 2020 exhibited a notably reduced proportion of visitors from distant regions. In 2021, a higher proportion of visitors originated from closer geographical proximities, likely as a strategic measure to minimize potential COVID-19 transmission risks.
