Osaka Considering New Tourist Tax

Above, a moat of Osaka Castle. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The U.S. isn't the only country who has gone "tax crazy" these past several years.

The prefecture of Osaka is considering a new tax on tourists to make the region more attractive and investing in the region's tourism infrastructure. 

According to the South China Morning Post:

Another popular tourist destination in Japan is planning to introduce a new levy on foreign visitors, with the governor of Osaka prefecture vowing that the funds generated from the tax will be reinvested into the region’s tourism infrastructure.

Industry insiders and analysts broadly agree that an additional small daily levy would not place too much of a burden on travellers or put others off visiting Osaka – but they emphasise that the prefecture must keep its promise to plough those funds back into the tourism sector.

Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura announced on Wednesday that he would set up a panel to consider the new levy in April and to examine the effectiveness of an existing accommodation tax.

To read more, go here. 

Japan's Miyajima Island Imposes Tourist Tax

Above, Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For those wanting to visit the Itsukushima Shrine on Japan's Miyajima Island, they will have to pay a little bit more to do so.

A new tourist tax will be imposed on tourists heading there.

From the South China Morning Post:

A scenic island in southwestern Japan’s Hiroshima prefecture has started to impose a tax of 100 yen (67 US cents) on all visitors to rein in overtourism after a trip by the leaders of the G7 countries to the area triggered a travel rush there.

Authorities in Miyajima, home to the Unesco-listed Itsukushima Shrine, which appears to float on the waters of a narrow bay at high water, said the levy would be added to the ferry fare to the island.

They also said local residents, office workers, preschoolers and students on schools excursions were exempt from the tax that was expected to generate 300 million yen (US$2 million) in annual revenue for the city of Hatsukaichi, which oversees the tourist destination.

I visited Miyajima Island in 2004 with G-TOUR that was sponsored by G-FAN magazine. 

To read more, go here.

Hawaiian Tourists May Get Taxed $50

Above, a sunset from Waikiki Beach. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The following should not come as any surprise since the state of Hawaii's government is dominated by Democrats.

As we all know, Democrats love to impose taxes on anything and everything.

From Time Out: 

Travel to Hawaii may soon increase in price for visitors. 

A proposed $50 tourist tax, or so-called green fee, aims to proactively protect Hawaii's much-visited natural spaces, such as beaches, and offset the negative effective of over-tourism.

“We saw so clearly the impacts of 10 million annual visitors on our islands that in addition to my proposal, there are several being discussed at the legislature. The bottom line is that we need to generate as much revenue as we can from travelers, to help mitigate those impacts," Hawaii Governor Josh Green told The Points Guy. Green promoted a "climate impact fee" during his campaign. 

The Hawaii Green Fee is currently passing through Hawaii's state legislature and is priced at $50  per nonresident over the age of 15, with the goal of generating between $400-500 million annually. Worldwide, protected destinations, including Galapagos National Park and Palau charge over $100 per visitor. 

To read more, go here.