Starting next year, Japan will charge a 1,000 yen “sayonara” or departure tax.
The implementation is slated to start on 7 January 2019.
This applies to Japanese and foreigners alike who are leaving Japan by air or sea.
Children below 2 years old and passengers on transit for less than 24 hours are exempted.
The tax revenue collected will be used to promote tourism and to fund tourism-related projects like improving airport infrastructure and services.
The tax will be included when travellers purchase their tickets, like the airport facility fees that is included in the total cost of the tickets. Airlines and travel companies will have to update their booking system to reflect the tax during payment.
