Thinking of visiting Japan? From today, there’ll be a tax to pay whenever you leave the country

South China Morning Post ^ | 01/07/2018

[SeekAndFind]

Japan began levying a 1,000 yen (US$9.24) departure tax on Monday, payable by anyone leaving the country by aircraft or ship, in a measure aimed at raising funds to further boost tourism.

The International Tourist Tax covers everyone regardless of nationality, from businesspeople to holidaymakers older than two years of age. It will be tacked on to the price of an airline ticket, though those bought and issued before Monday are exempt.

Japan’s government estimates that it will make an additional 50 billion yen (US$462 million) from the tax, which it wants to use to improve tourism infrastructure by making airport immigration processes faster and encouraging visitors to explore areas beyond traditionally popular destinations such as Tokyo and Kyoto, for example.

Japan has been aggressively courting international tourists as a new pillar of economic growth – aiming to boost visitor figures to 40 million by 2020, when Tokyo hosts the Olympic Games.

A record number of foreigners – more than 30 million – are estimated to have visited in 2018, many coming from China, South Korea and Taiwan.

Regular travellers like Timo Lim, a 23-year-old student in London who visits Japan twice a year on average, said the tax was unlikely to discourage him as it is a “negligible sum”.

Yet departure taxes, which are usually included in the price of a flight, can have a cumulative impact. A 2013 study into the effect of Australia’s departure tax published in international industry journal Tourism Management found that the country’s tourism industry “will suffer” despite economic gains – highlighting what the authors described as “a clash between the industry and wider economic interests”.

However, at A$60 (US$43), Australia’s departure tax is much heftier than Japan’s and far outstrips those levied by most other countries in the region. These range from less than US$10 in Malaysia to US$35 in neighbouring Singapore.

Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Myanmar, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam all also collect varying amounts of tax from people leaving the country, while the Philippines charges its nationals 1,520 pesos (US$31) to depart – though the government there is considering replacing the current travel tax with a fee that also includes foreigners, according to reports.

[AppyPappy]

“Relax” said the night man
We are programmed to receive
You can check out any time you like
But you must pay to leave

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I sailed to Japan and back six times on MSTS.
I don’t recall an “exit fee.”

[DUMBGRUNT]

Then they were stupid.

They were students and young.
Deep thinkers, maybe not at the time.

And they have succeeded in the lottery of life.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

If you don’t pay, they put you in a room with a tentacle monster. Or make you watch a marathon of the complete Dragonball Z or Pokemon series.

[RichyTea]

I hope you are not considering going to Mexico - they have been charging an exit fee at the airports since the 1970’s that I know of from personal experience.

[867V309]

Charlie on the MTA

Did he ever return? No he never returned And his fate is still unlearn'd He may ride forever 'neath the streets of Boston He's the man who never returned.

[hanamizu]

I sailed to Japan and back six times on MSTS.
I don’t recall an “exit fee.

---

I doubt they’d have the nerve to try and tax our armed forces! I do know we had to pay a tax the first time we left from Narita. Don’t think there was one on our second visit.