Rising Travel Costs for Koreans in the US and Japan
Creatrip Team
2 months ago
South Koreans are facing higher travel expenses in the United States and Japan as both countries introduce fees that hit foreign visitors harder. The US raised ESTA (electronic travel authorization) fees from $21 to $40 and is set to require five years of social media and ten years of email history for applicants. From Jan 1, eleven popular national parks increased entrance fees for foreigners—adding $100 to the standard $20 day fee—and the annual parks pass for all parks jumped from $80 to $250. Concerns about privacy and cost have led some Korean travelers to delete social posts. Meanwhile, Japan’s local governments are expanding or raising accommodation taxes (e.g., Kyoto will raise its per-person, per-night tax from up to 1,000 yen to 10,000 yen) and the national government plans to triple the departure tax from 1,000 to 3,000 yen starting July. Some museums and attractions are also considering higher foreigner-only prices (double pricing), and a private Okinawa theme park already charges foreigners more. These measures, plus unfavorable exchange rates and event-driven demand (like the North-Central America World Cup), are likely to make US and Japan trips pricier for Korean travelers. (ESTA: US electronic travel authorization) (숙박세: lodging tax)
