Proposals range from a 200% increase to as much as 400%.
Heads up, Japanophiles!
As the Land of the Rising Sun continues to struggle under the massive weight of overtourism, the government and its ruling coalition are considering raising its International Tourist Tax, per a report on The Yomiuri Shimbun. The POST gathers here all the relevant information that is known so far about this proposed move.
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From ¥1,000 to as much as ¥5,000
Currently at ¥1,000 (P382) per person and levied on people leaving Japan as a departure or exit tax, proposals have been made to raise it to ¥3,000 (P1,145) to as much as ¥5,000 (P1,913). The government’s move was partly motivated by other nations like Egypt and Australia, which charge outbound passengers about ¥3,750 (P1436) and ¥7,000 (P2,680), respectively, the newspaper added.
At present, tax revenues are limited to the promotion of international tourism and resort development. With the hike, the government plans to expand the purposes for which it is used, such as measures against overtourism, which has become a chronic problem in touristy areas such as Kyoto and the prefectures which Mt. Fuji straddles: Shizuoka and Yamanashi. Officials also expect that the tax revenue will be used to expand transportation facilities and improve airports.
In the 2023 financial year, Japan collected ¥39.9 billion yen (P15.28 billion) in revenue from the exit tax, a figure that’s three times the previous year’s as the country’s inbound tourism continues to soar after the pandemic.
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Booming tourism sector
According to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), the estimated number of foreign visitors to Japan last year was 36,869,900, a whopping 15.6% increase compared to 2019, setting a new record high. A staggering 789,157 Filipinos went to Japan in 2024, second only to Hong Kong at 886,771, per data from the Department of Tourism and as reported here on The POST.
The number of foreign visitors to Japan is expected to continue to increase. The government, in fact, is aiming for 60 million visitors in 2030. If the tourism tax is increased fivefold as proposed by some, it could rake in about ¥300 billion yen (P115 billion) annually, per The South China Morning Post.
The move has been met with opposition, however, as some of the country’s airports and tourist spots have not been able to keep up with huge volumes of tourists. If the number increases further, there is the possibility of overtourism becoming even more burdensome for the locals.
Moreover, according to Ashley Harvey, a travel marketing analyst interviewed by the SCMP and quoted in the same article, what authorities need is “a massive action plan that doesn’t presently exist.”
“Simply charging more and making promises is not enough,” he said. “If nothing is done, then the problems associated with overtourism are only going to get worse.”
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The scourge of overtourism
The POST has already reported on how places and businesses in Japan have taken measures to fight against swarms of tourists—some of whom are of the badly behaving kind. Kyoto has started penalizing tourists who harass geishas and maikos (apprentice geishas), and those who “trespass” into residential streets and alleys. Even the barrier meant to block views of Mount Fuji in Fujikawaguchiko was damaged by unruly tourists.
Most recently, the once sleepy town of Otaru in Hokkaido made headlines for being swarmed by foreign visitors, with a Hong Kong national reportedly being hit by a train and dying after posing on the tracks with a famous view. Even before the unfortunate incident, however, local authorities started deploying security guards to remind tourists to refrain from disruptive behaviors, including trespassing onto private premises and obstructing road traffic.
Businesses across Japan have also been mulling a dual pricing system for foreign visitors and locals amid a surge in inbound visitors. Some establishments have already started charging tourists more.
Overtourism has also plagued other countries such as South Korea, Spain, and Italy, as reported here on The POST (see related stories below).
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