Visitors to Japan Up 16.6 Pct in May

Tokyo, June 20 (Jiji Press)--The estimated number of visitors to Japan in May grew 16.6 pct from a year earlier to 2,675,000, the Japan National Tourism Organization said Wednesday. The number was the highest for the month since the survey started in 1964. The growth was led by an increase in visitors from other Asian economies thanks to new flights provided by low-cost carriers. The largest group was visitors from mainland China, jumping 29.3 pct to 668,600. South Korea followed with 640,400 visitors, up 14.6 pct, and Taiwan came in third with 440,100 visitors, up 8.0 pct. The number of visitors from the United States and major European countries also showed double-digit growth. The overall growth "is supported by the expanding LCC market, in addition to economic growth in emerging and developed countries," said Akihiko Tamura, commissioner of the Japan Tourism Agency. END