Japan Triples International Tourist Tax Starting July 1

Japan will triple its international tourist tax effective July 1 to combat overtourism while maintaining its target of 60 million inbound visitors by 2030. Cherry blossom festival shutdowns highlight the growing tension between tourism revenue and crowd management. The tax increase could impact Japan's tourism-dependent economy and affect JPY strength. Higher costs may reduce tourist demand, potentially weakening Japan's services sector and current account balance.