It was revealed on the 11th that the government is considering raising the international tourist tax (departure tax). Discussions are progressing towards the 2026 tax system reform outline. The aim is to increase the burden on foreign visitors to Japan and use it as a source of funding for measures against over-tourism (tourism pollution). Since Japanese people also pay the departure tax, there is also a proposal to significantly reduce the issuance fee for 10-year passports in order to avoid discouraging Japanese people from traveling.
The departure tax was established in 2019 and is currently collected at 1,000 yen per person. The tax revenue for the fiscal year 2023 was 39.9 billion yen. Prime Minister Sanae Takichi stated in a debate during the Liberal Democratic Party leadership election on September 30 before becoming prime minister, “I want to raise the departure tax to 3,000 yen and use it.” The government is considering raising the tax to over 3,000 yen to strengthen measures against overtourism such as congestion and etiquette violations in transportation. However, since Japanese people also pay the departure tax, there are concerns that raising it may discourage Japanese travel. As a countermeasure, the government is considering utilizing a portion of the increased revenue from the departure tax hike to significantly reduce the fees for issuing Japanese passports. For a passport valid for 10 years, the current issuance fee is 15,900 yen when applying online, with about 10,000 yen allocated for Japanese protection measures. According to government officials, by allocating the increased revenue from the departure tax, there is a possibility of reducing the issuance fee for passports by up to 10,000 yen. In addition, the government has decided to raise the fees for visa applications for foreign visitors to Japan significantly next fiscal year, aiming to bring them in line with those of Europe and the United States. This would be the first increase since 1978. To prevent foreigners from illegally profiting from resale next fiscal year, the government has also decided to change the tax-free refund for goods purchased in Japan to be refunded upon departure. These measures to increase the burden on foreign visitors to Japan may lead to alleviating tourism pollution, but there is also a risk of discouraging foreign visitors from coming to Japan. Some voices within the government are calling for careful discussions, saying that “sufficient consideration is needed for foreigners and tourism businesses.”