Kyushu travel subsidy program to face strict oversight against price gouging

The Japan Tourism Agency has announced strict measures to prevent price gouging related to the ‘Kyushu Fukkou Ouen Wari’ (Kyushu Recovery Support Discount) program. This initiative, scheduled to begin on October 1, aims to stimulate tourism and support recovery following the 2026 Kumamoto earthquake by offering subsidies of up to 50% for travel in Kyushu, with Kumamoto and Kagoshima reaching up to 60%.

Tourism Agency Commissioner Norio Kimura stated that the agency will take rigorous action against businesses that implement ‘opportunistic price hikes’ by adding surcharges on top of the discounted rates. If such practices are discovered, businesses may be excluded from the subsidy program.

Many online travel agencies have already reported high demand, with some reservation slots selling out immediately upon release. The program covers seven prefectures in Kyushu, including Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima, with varying subsidy limits and start dates for different booking channels.