The Japanese government and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) are considering tripling the departure tax to 3,000 yen (around RM90) per person to help fund measures addressing challenges from a surge in inbound tourism, sources familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.
The higher tax, which would apply to both international visitors and Japanese travelers and be included in air and sea ticket prices, may partly be used to lower passport acquisition fees, according to the sources. Some LDP members are even pushing for the tax to exceed 3,000 yen.
Japan collected a record 52.48 billion yen in departure tax revenue in the year ending March 2025. The government aims to use the additional funds to tackle issues such as overcrowding, congestion, and poor tourist behavior at popular sites.
Among the proposed measures is the introduction of an AI-based parking reservation system to help ease traffic congestion around major tourist areas.
