With more flight routes and relaxed visa policies, more and more Filipinos are opting to spend their hand-earned money on a vacation in Japan. But you may have to add 1,000 yen (roughly P489) to your travel budget as the country will start collecting departure tax by Monday, January 7.
This implementation comes after Japan's bicameral legislature, or the National Diet, passed the departure tax law on April 11, 2018. Revenue from this levy will be exclusively used to promote tourism in the country, specifically for "preparing a comfortable tourism environment; spreading information about Japan’s tourism attractions; and promoting a sense of fulfillment among travelers through improved tourism resources." The government is expecting an influx of tourists leading to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.
Both foreign and Japanese nationals leaving Japan through airports and seaports are subject to the departure tax. Kids who are below two years old, airline crew members, and people who are taking connecting flights within 24 hours of entering Japan are exempted from the levy.
For more information, visit Japan National Tourism Organization’s website.
This story originally appeared on Spot.ph.
* Minor edits have been made by the Femalenetwork.com editors.
