Kyoto sightseeing page for foreigners set up on Facebook

The number of fans who clicked "Like" on the Kyoto Sightseeing page intended for foreigners on the online social networking site "Facebook" has topped 100,000. It is said to be the best among domestic sightseeing sites, indicating the popularity of Kyoto overseas.

The Kyoto Convention Bureau in Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, in its effort to attract foreign travelers and bid for international conventions, launched the sightseeing page "Visit Kyoto" in English, in cooperation with the city, in September, 2010. The main content is seasonal information authored by foreign residents of Kyoto. After a viewer clicks "Like" on the page, new information is displayed on the viewer's page every time information is updated.

The number of subscribers grew in 2012, topping 100,000 on December 9, 2012. According to the Kyoto Convention Bureau, it was less than the about 140,000 for Paris, France or about 120,000 for Singapore as of December, 2012, but it had more than London, UK (about 96,000) or New York, USA (about 55,000). Kyoto has taken the lead domestically, including surpassing about 39,000 for Hiroshima and about 29,000 for Hokkaido.

By country, the greatest number of "Likes" for the Kyoto page was from the Philippines with about 20,000 clicks. It was followed by India and Brazil, while countries with fewer travelers to Kyoto up to now occupied the top rankings. The Kyoto Convention Bureau said, "Countries with little information on Kyoto sightseeing are showing interest, while the middle class that can afford to enjoy overseas travel has expanded due to significant economic development. We hope sending them fresh information on Kyoto will lead to their future visits as new Kyoto fans."