Osaka has dropped plans to impose a special levy on foreign tourists, after an expert panel concluded the scheme would be legally and practically unworkable.
Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura had floated the idea last year as a way to address overtourism, but the panel reported on Aug. 27 that the proposal lacked a legal basis and could violate international tax treaties that prohibit discrimination by nationality.
The panel also cited administrative hurdles in collecting such a fee.
Osaka officials said they will review the recommendation before deciding on next steps, but the proposal is effectively shelved.
by MagazineKey4532
3 comments
I hope this sets a precedent.
Never expected Ishin to jump on the bandwagon of “foreigners are all bad”. I generally had a mixed view about Ishin, positives-> Osaka’s development, specially the high-rise district of Umeda, Osaka Expo
negatives-> Osaka Expo night stranded, no plans in case of such problems, local leaders of Ishin are basically thugs, Ishin somehow tries manipulating social media to suppress criticism, Ishin previously had politicians like Mizuho Umemura (who got suspended for her inhuman remarks at Wishma, a Sri-Lankan woman who died after suffering inhuman conditions in Japan’s Immigration Detention, Mizuho said, “She faked her death”) and apparently Mizuho Umemura after getting suspended by Ishin, joined Sanseito and continues her anti-foreigner propaganda.
Ishin has a strong grip on Osaka, people are positive about the party due to various developments, but they are also seen as thugs in many areas. Their particular negatives have been noticeable recently-> Chinese private lodgings, bribing officials to allow construction with poor standards (which is why the Dotonbori fire recently happened).
Just charge hotel taxes like anywhere else in the world.
A majority of hotel goers are tourists
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