00:01Cheap Japanese yen may not be so attractive to international tourists soon.
00:05Starting July, travelers from countries without mutual visa exemption
00:09will have to pay over 90 U.S. dollars for a single entry.
00:14The increase comes after a nearly $18 cost for almost five decades.
00:19Taiwan and 73 other countries can still enjoy free entry for a 90-day stay.
00:24But countries like China, India, and Vietnam, which have sent the most visitors to Japan,
00:30will have to budget around it.
00:34Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae says the decision comes as major cities like Tokyo and Kyoto
00:40grapple with a huge influx of overseas tourists, peaking at $42 million last year.
00:47Takaichi says the extra income will go towards a discount for Japanese citizens' passport application.
00:53But some in Japan say the five-fold increase is too much and too sudden.
00:57I think it's not positive because it's a huge spike.
01:00But if it was a gradual, maybe people would be like, it's okay.
01:03Some tourists think the extra charge is reasonable for helping local residents
01:07who've had to bear the brunt of inflation costs.
01:10The result is seen in dual pricing for locals and foreigners.
01:14You don't want to have people be priced out of their own town or community.
01:17And so if this would help them accomplish that, the Japanese residents,
01:22then I think it would be something that people should support.
01:24While Japan's government tries to sustain tourism without it putting a toll on locals,
01:30some worry that the diversity that tourists bring to their society
01:33will fade away if the extra fee becomes too much of a burden.
01:39Right now, a lot of people from overseas are coming to Japan,
01:42and the culture here is really thriving.
01:44For example, the World Cup is on right now,
01:47and countries all over the world are getting excited.
01:49Being able to watch it in Japan while interacting with people from all sorts of countries,
01:54that kind of culture is something I really love.
01:57Tourism experts say while Taiwan is exempt from the extra charge,
02:01those working in Japan or traveling for paying gigs,
02:04such as art performers, will still have to apply beforehand.
02:08Howard Zhang and Irene Lin for Taiwan Plus.
02:10The World Cup is on right now.
Comments