Japan will end tax-free shopping for foreign visitors in November 2026 and before that, it will introduce dual pricing, visa pre-approval, and visitor caps at major attractions this year, according to official announcements and media reports.
The changes are part of a broader effort by Japan to address overtourism and preserve cultural and environmental sites, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO).
Under the revised system, tourists will no longer benefit from point-of-sale tax exemptions. Instead, from 1 November 2026, they will pay consumption tax up front and be eligible for a refund at designated airport counters, the JNTO said in an official update published earlier this year.
In addition, a new dual pricing model is set to roll out in 2025, under which foreigners will pay higher entry fees than domestic visitors at museums, temples, ski resorts, and amusement parks. Some theme parks already charge international guests 25% more, according to Essential Japan, a travel and policy news site.
Japan’s Ministry of Justice is also preparing to introduce a Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization (JESTA) visa system, which would require travellers from visa-exempt countries to obtain online pre-approval before entering the country. According to TravelPirates, citing official government plans, the system is scheduled for implementation by fiscal year 2028, with preparatory steps beginning in 2025.
Meanwhile, Mount Fuji has introduced a cap of 4,000 hikers per day, with a mandatory ¥2,000 fee ($13.6) per visitor, as part of new access restrictions aimed at limiting environmental damage. The measure was reported by International Traveller in July 2024.
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The eighth Congress of World and Traditional Religious Leaders has commenced in Astana, bringing together around 100 delegations from 60 countries.
On 16 September, President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in Azerbaijan for an official visit that included ceremonies in Shusha and wide-ranging talks with President Ilham Aliyev.
Kazakhstan is moving forward with the construction of a major transport and logistics hub, the Kolzhat Dry Port, at its border with China, LS.com reported on 15 September.
The United States has named Afghanistan among the countries that it says have “failed demonstrably” to meet international counternarcotics obligations over the past year. President Donald Trump’s announcement, delivered to Congress on Monday, also included Bolivia, Burma, Colombia and Venezuela.
AnewZ has learned that India has once again blocked Azerbaijan’s application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, while Pakistan’s recent decision to consider diplomatic relations with Armenia has been coordinated with Baku as part of Azerbaijan’s peace agenda.
A day of mourning has been declared in Portugal to pay respect to victims who lost their lives in the Lisbon Funicular crash which happened on Wednesday evening.
A Polish Air Force pilot was killed on Thursday when an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the 2025 Radom International Air Show.
At least eight people have died and more than 90 others were injured following a catastrophic gas tanker explosion on a major highway in Mexico City’s Iztapalapa district on Wednesday, authorities confirmed.
KLM, the Dutch arm of airline group Air France, will cancel 100 flights on Wednesday after ground crew announced a two-hour strike, a spokesperson for KLM said on Tuesday, confirming a report by Dutch News Agency ANP.
Air Canada is set to resume its flight services on 20 August, after a nearly four-day strike by its unionized flight attendants left more than 500,000 passengers stranded.
Türkiye’s low-cost carrier AJet, a branch of Turkish Airlines, will launch its first-ever direct flights from Ankara to Barcelona and Madrid this October.
China can visit South Korea without a visa from the end of September until June next year. Seoul made the announcement for temporary visa-free entry to tourist groups on Wednesday (6 August).
China has significantly relaxed its entry restrictions, with establishing unilateral visa-free access and mutual visa exemption arrangements with 75 countries as part of its efforts to streamline visa processes and encourage global engagement.
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