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

The government estimates it will make 50 billion yen (US$462 million) from the tax, which it wants to use to improve tourism infrastructure

More than 30 million foreigners visited the country in 2018 – a record figure that Tokyo aims to boost to 40 million by 2020

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Passengers at Kansai International Airport on January 7. Photo: Kyodo

Published: 7:58pm, 7 Jan 2019Updated: 7:18pm, 8 Jan 2019

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.

Tokyo is particularly popular with foreign tourists. Photo: Daniel Hurst

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.

Tokyo will host the Olympics in 2020. Photo: AFP