The Japanese government is currently considering a new plan to impose fees on foreign visitors from visa-exempt countries as part of a new electronic screening system known as JESTA. This move is part of Tokyo's efforts to strengthen border control measures and regulate the increasing influx of travelers into the country.
Details of fees and the proposed "GESTA" system
According to the Japanese news agency Kyodo, the government is considering setting the fee between 2,000 and 3,000 yen (approximately US$13). This fee would cover the processing of traveler data through the new electronic travel authorization system, which is scheduled to launch and become fully operational in fiscal year 2028.
The GESTA system primarily aims to:
- Strengthening national security and combating terrorism.
- Reducing illegal immigration and illegal work for visitors who enter as tourists.
- The system applies to citizens of countries and regions that currently enjoy exemption from short-stay visas.
Global context: Catching up with international standards
This Japanese move is not unprecedented globally, but rather aligns with international trends in border management. Japan seeks to implement a model similar to those used in other developed countries, such as:
- The United States of America: which applies the “ESTA” system and imposes fees ranging between $14 and $21.
- The European Union: which is preparing to launch the “ETIAS” system soon to screen visa-exempt travelers.
- Canada and Australia: which have similar electronic travel authorization systems.
This trend indicates Japan’s desire to modernize its security and immigration system to keep pace with global standards, especially with the increasing security challenges and complexities of international travel.
The tourism boom and the challenges of the future
This proposal comes at a time when Japan is experiencing a massive tourism boom, with the government expecting the number of visitors to exceed 40 million this year. This surge, fueled in part by the weak Japanese currency and the appeal of local culture, is putting pressure on infrastructure and immigration systems, necessitating a more efficient system for screening travelers before they arrive at Japanese airports.
The government intends to submit a bill to amend the Immigration Control Act in the next regular parliamentary session, to legally pave the way for the operation of this system.
Directing proceeds to support visitors during disasters
In a move reflecting Japan's geographical nature, the government is considering using revenue from the GESTA toll for a vital purpose: improving the tourist experience and providing emergency support to foreign visitors during natural disasters . Given that Japan is prone to earthquakes and tsunamis, allocating a budget specifically for emergency tourist assistance and developing multilingual alert and evacuation systems is a smart investment to ensure guest safety and the sustainability of the tourism sector.
