TOKYO - The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has announced plans to draw up guidelines for the introduction of a so-called dual pricing system that differentiates between foreign visitors and local residents.
Under the dual pricing model, higher admission fees are charged to foreign tourists and visitors who are not local residents when they visit domestic tourist facilities. The system has already been adopted at a growing number of destinations overseas, and from this month it has also been introduced at Himeji Castle in Hyogo Prefecture, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Transport Minister Tetsuo Kaneko said at a press conference on March 3rd that "each facility will determine its pricing, including whether to adopt a dual pricing structure, based on its circumstances and consideration for local residents." He added that such measures are "important for ensuring the sustainability of operations and services," and confirmed that the central government will formulate guidelines.
The guidelines will take into account efforts to address overtourism both in Japan and abroad, as well as the current state of pricing practices at tourist facilities, according to the ministry.
Source: TBS
