Overview
- Government and ruling coalition officials are considering raising the levy from ¥1,000 to around ¥3,000 or more, directing added revenue to crowding controls and tourism infrastructure.
- To offset the burden on residents who also pay the levy, a substantial cut to the 10-year passport issuance fee is under review.
- Visa application fees for inbound visitors are slated to rise next fiscal year for the first time since 1978, and tax-free shopping refunds would move to at-departure payouts to curb resale abuses.
- The tax, introduced in 2019, brought in about ¥39.9 billion in FY2023 and a record roughly ¥52.5 billion in FY2024 that supported tourism facilities and related measures.
- Officials and industry voices caution that higher costs could deter visitors, with calls for careful design as Japanese outbound travel remains at roughly 60% of pre-pandemic levels.