Recently, the news of someone proposing to impose a departure tax on outbound tourists has spread on the Internet. As soon as this proposal came out, it immediately aroused strong opposition and heated discussions among the general public. The imposition of a departure tax not only deviates from the direction of development since the reform and opening up, but also reverses the wheel of history, and its absurdity is unbelievable.
The imposition of a departure tax is a serious violation of China's basic national policy since the reform and opening up. Over the past 40 years of reform and opening up, China has been committed to promoting opening-up and encouraging its citizens to go abroad and learn about the world.
The imposition of a departure tax undoubtedly adds an additional burden to citizens leaving the country, inhibits people's willingness to leave the country, and runs counter to the mainland's long-standing policy of opening up. This is a reversal of the wheel of history, not a move to adapt to the development of the times.
The setting of the departure tax is not reasonable and fair. Travel is a basic right of citizens and should not be subject to excessive restrictions and additional burdens.
The departure tax is often levied on the middle class who can afford and are willing to travel abroad, and this group of people is precisely the backbone of promoting domestic consumption and economic development. The imposition of additional taxes on them will undoubtedly dampen their enthusiasm for consumption and is not conducive to the virtuous cycle of the domestic economy.
The imposition of a departure tax can also have a number of negative consequences. In the current era of globalization, the flow of people between countries is becoming more and more frequent, and the imposition of departure tax will undoubtedly affect the convenience of Chinese citizens leaving the country and reduce China's image in the international community. At the same time, this move may also cause countermeasures from other countries, which will ultimately hurt the interests of the majority of outbound tourists.
In addition, there are still many practical problems in the collection of departure tax. The implementation of the tax requires additional human and material inputs, which increases administrative costs. Moreover, in practice, how to define the object of taxation and how to prevent tax evasion and other issues need to be further clarified. This undoubtedly adds to the difficulty of the already complex immigration management.
Finally, we should realize that outbound tourism is of great significance to improving the overall quality of the people and promoting exchanges among civilizations. By going abroad, the general public can broaden their horizons, understand the diversity of the world, and learn advanced concepts and technologies, which will greatly benefit the country's soft power and international competitiveness. Restricting the exit of the country is tantamount to hindering the improvement of the quality of the people and the long-term development of the country.
In conclusion, the proposal for a departure tax is an absurd and perverse move. In today's era, we should uphold the concept of openness and inclusiveness, instead of closing ourselves off from the rest of the country and closing ourselves off. The imposition of a departure tax is not only contrary to the trend of development, but may also bring about a series of negative impacts, ultimately harming the long-term interests of the country and the people.
Proceeding from the overall situation of national development, it is suggested that this untimely proposal be abandoned, continue to adhere to the correct direction of reform and opening up, and promote the progress and prosperity of Chinese society.
We call on all sectors of society to face up to the absurdity of the proposed departure tax and take a clear stand against this perverse measure. Every citizen should exercise his or her rights, express his or her demands through various legal channels, and promote the improvement of relevant policies. Only by adhering to openness and opposing closure can China continue to move forward in the long river of history and achieve a better future.
Let us work together to defend the achievements of reform and opening up, oppose such an absurd proposal as a departure tax, and jointly promote the progress and prosperity of Chinese society. The wheel of history is rolling forward, and any move to reverse history will eventually be abandoned by the times. Let us make unremitting efforts to create a more open, inclusive and progressive China!