Why must some countries have to apply for tourist visa and have to pay for such exhorbitant visa fees?

Question

Aren't we are contributing tourism to such country and they benefit from it?

Answer 1

The traditional arrangement was that one must apply for a visa (a stamp in a valid passport) in order to enter another country at to an embassy in the country of origin. To encourage tourism and commerce some countries reverted to visa issue at the port of entry. Other countries developed cross border mutual entry permits without passports, for example in the EU among its member nations or Canada and US.

Today you have a mishmash of the methods. For example EU, Israel, Brazil, etc. citizens are not required pre approved visas (they get port entry visitors visa) at the port of entry in Japan. US citizen do. The reason is reciprocal response. Since the US requires Japanese citizens to have visas in order to enter the US, Japan responds likewise.

Generally you will find that the requirements on US citizens entering another country (X) are equal or better that the requirements from tourists com mining from X to the US.

Keep Smilin'

Answer 2

Yes and by charging the visa fees the government of the country benefits from the tourism without taxing the businesses that benefit. You would be paying one way or the other, at least it is up front.