Japan has been collecting a 1,000 yen per person International Tourist Tax (Departure Tax) from foreign visitors and outbound travelers since 2019. On Monday (May 19), a Japanese senator proposed raising the Departure Tax for visitors to Japan as a source of funding for addressing tourism-related environmental issues. In response, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed his agreement.
According to a report by Asahi Shimbun, the Japanese government collects the Departure Tax from travelers departing by air or sea, incorporating the tax directly into the price of plane tickets or ship fares. The tax amounts to 1,000 yen per person per trip and is applicable to Japanese nationals as well, with the revenue being used to promote tourism.
Senator Yumi Yoshikawa of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party mentioned during a budget committee meeting in the Senate on Monday that compared to other countries, Japan’s Departure Tax is relatively low. He suggested increasing the tax for visitors to Japan to generate revenue for dealing with “overtourism” issues and to support local economies.
In response to this, Prime Minister Ishiba stated, “Various infrastructure developments have been carried out using the tax money of Japanese citizens. It should be considered the duty of visitors to Japan to contribute appropriately, which can be considered as a form of payment to Japanese taxpayers. The government will also consider this matter.”
Regarding the possible increase in Departure Tax for Japanese citizens, Ishiba noted, “Whether we can strike a balance remains to be discussed,” emphasizing the need for a detailed conversation on the topic.
Japan started implementing the Departure Tax in January 2019, with the tax revenue reaching 39.9 billion yen in the 2023 fiscal year, around three times the amount in 2022, and it is estimated to increase to 49 billion yen in the 2025 fiscal year.
The Japan National Tourism Organization estimates that in 2024, the total number of visitors to Japan will reach a record high of 36.99 million, while the number of Japanese outbound travelers will be 13.01 million.
The Japanese government aims to attract 60 million visitors to Japan by 2030, but some airports and tourist areas are struggling to cope with the influx of tourists. An increase in visitors could exacerbate the issue of “overtourism,” prompting the Japanese government to consider raising the Departure Tax to enhance revenue.
(Sourced from Central News Agency)