From January 2019 Japan is set to impose a ¥1,000 tax on everyone departing the country, to secure funding for tourism infrastructure and promotion amid record-breaking arrivals of international travelers.
The inbound tourism industry is one of the few growth sectors in the rapidly graying and shrinking country.
The government aims to increase the annual number of international visitors to 40 million by 2020, and 60 million by 2030. To reach the targets, it claims, the nation needs extra funds to upgrade tourism facilities.