Japan really, really needs to figure out how to actually extract value from tourists. While it's great that people are interested in the country, coming here and spending $40 a day is no good for the economy.
Japan really, really needs to figure out how to actually extract value from tourists. While it's great that people are interested in the country, coming here and spending $40 a day is no good for the economy.
Note: literally none of this is true
@GearoidReidy It could be that not enough money is taken from tourists, at 0.23% of GDP tons of room to grow and fix this! Or it could be that the government spends 1/3 more than it taxes while having the highest debt in the world, and holds rates at 0 by printing money to buy its own debt.
@GearoidReidy Many of us would be happy to move to Japan and to pay higher taxes for the quality of life there but their inability to fix their tax laws that are deeply unfair in a rare corner case makes it impossible.
@GearoidReidy Nobody is spending ¥6000 per day unless they’re camping out in Ueno park. I just came back from Kyoto and spent a hella lot more than that.
@GearoidReidy Ending the "Tax Free" for tourists shit would be step 0 IMO.
@GearoidReidy Double edged sword: how to raise costs on tourists without raising costs on citizens (esp considering so many people live in the big 3 cities). Maybe Japan could try to export more than they import, esp in terms of food?
@GearoidReidy happy to report that fancy hotels are doing fine charging $1000/nite
@GearoidReidy generally agree, but they are also extracting from the rich tourists who spend a ton at the high end hotels, stores, restaurants