Is Japan making tourism more expensive to deter unruly visitors?

Japan’s proposed increase in visa fees and departure tax is an attempt to balance between dealing with overtourism and deterring misbehaving visitors at “the bottom of the pyramid”, according to industry observers.

The government believes the present fees for visas and departure taxes are low in comparison with international standards, with the Asahi newspaper reporting that the additional funds would be used on improving tourism infrastructure and the education sector.

If implemented, the proposal is expected to generate nearly 300 billion yen (US$1.99 billion) in revenue annually for Tokyo.

Industry insiders say the small visa fee and departure tax increases are unlikely to put people off from travelling to Japan, but any requirement for visitors to obtain a visa in person at their respective embassies could adversely affect arrival numbers.

A travel operator says the price increase is a deliberate effort to make Japan a more expensive destination and put off a segment of international visitors who have been criticised for misbehaving and failing to respect Japanese norms and customs.

“If the increases are large, then it is inevitable that people will notice when they pay for a visa or see the added charges attached to a flight. But the popularity of Japan as a destination at the moment and its competitive price, because of the favourable exchange rate, means that there will not be much of an impact,” Masaru Takayama, president of Kyoto-based Spirit of Japan Travel, told This Week in Asia.