(Central News Agency reporter Liao Wenqi, Shanghai, 20th) The Japanese government announced on the 19th that visa fees will be increased five-fold starting in July, triggering many Chinese netizens to complain on social platforms that they "only sanction our pig liver red passports." However, some Chinese people believe that the impact is not significant. The decline in the Japanese yen exchange rate has significantly reduced the cost of traveling to Japan.
According to Japan's Kyodo News Agency, the Japanese government announced on the 19th that it will increase visa processing fees for foreigners visiting Japan to five times the original level starting from July. The fee for a single valid visa will be increased from 3,000 yen to 15,000 yen (approximately NT$600 to NT$3,000); the fee for multiple visas will be increased from 6,000 yen to 30,000 yen. This will be the first increase in visa fees since 1978.
This incident has no impact on the Taiwanese people, but the Chinese people are very excited. Many Chinese netizens complained on the social platform Threads, "The five-fold increase in the price of daily visas only punishes our pig liver red (Chinese passport cover color is dark crimson) passport", "It is not expensive, and those who can travel can get it, but it does not mean that they are willing to pay for this policy", "Is there any precedent for the visa fee to be adjusted back...".
However, some Shanghai residents who frequently travel abroad told a reporter from Central News Agency that the impact on him would not be big. "Theoretically it will have an impact, but in practical experience I don't think it will." He believes that for most people who travel, visa fees are the last thing they consider.
This citizen pointed out that compared with the five-fold increase in visa fees, the falling yen exchange rate has significantly reduced the cost of traveling to Japan. "The cost of traveling to Japan now is about 20% off the price in the past." He believes that the main factor affecting mainland Chinese tourists to travel to Japan is the official propaganda. "Those who choose not to go to Japan do so because of political factors or safety factors."
Affected by the deterioration of Sino-Japanese relations and the Chinese government's call to avoid traveling to Japan, the number of Chinese tourists to Japan has dropped sharply. According to the latest Japanese official data, Chinese tourists dropped by 60.4% year-on-year to 313,000 in May, lower than the same period last year for six consecutive months. However, China is still Japan's fourth largest source of tourists. The top three are South Korea, Taiwan, and the United States, all of which enjoy visa-free treatment for 90-day short-term stays in Japan. (Editor: Zhou Huiying) 1150620
