From today, families who book a flight or a cruise to Japan will have to pay an international tourist tax.
Fuji mountain and Kawaguchiko lake in morning, Autumn seasons Fuji mountain at Yamanachi in Japan. Picture: Shutterstock
The Y1000 tax equates to $12.97 per passenger.
In a statement announcing the tax, the Japan Tourism Agency (JTA) said the fee must be paid to the cruise line or airline you use to leave Japan. The tax may also be collected by another organisation such as the travel agency you use.
The collected payments are then sent to the Japanese Government.
Children under 2 are exempt from the tax.
Tokyo Japan. Picture: Shutterstock
Japan intends to use the international tourist tax to “expand and enhance Japan’s tourist infrastructure.” The funds will allow Japan to create a “more comfortable, stress-free tourist environment”, to “improve access to information about a wide variety of attractions in Japan” and to develop tourist resources taking advantage of the unique cultural and natural assets of respective regions,” JTA says.
Travel allows you to get outside your bubble. It makes you realise there are other ways to do things, and that’s OK. Plus, I am a huge fan of skiing and for the best powder – you need to head overseas.