Japan has long been a favourite holiday spot, and the numbers prove it. Last year, the country hit a record-breaking 36.8 million international visitors. Malaysians made up a big part of that wave, with 506,800 travellers heading there in 2024, the highest number ever recorded.
But with popularity comes pressure. Many locals have started voicing concerns about overcrowding in tourist hotspots, prompting the Japanese government to search for ways to ease the strain.
Photo via GoodLuck Trip
One of the ideas on the table is to increase the international tourist tax. Reports from The Japan Times say that Japan is considering raising the current JPY1,000 (about RM27) departure tax to JPY3,000 (around RM80).
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party has also proposed going even further by fiscal year 2026, suggesting a JPY5,000 (about RM134) charge for travellers flying business or first class.
Japan introduced this departure tax in 2019, and it is automatically added to air tickets and other travel fares. If the increase goes through, the extra revenue would be channelled towards initiatives to tackle overtourism and improve travel management across the country.
What are your thoughts on Japan potentially tripling the tax for international travellers?
