Japanese tourists flock to Korea

SEOUL, Sept. 16 (Yonhap) -- The number of Japanese tourists to South Korea has
shot up since the start of the holiday season in July, as fears over the spread
of the Influenza A (H1N1) virus are decreasing, a state tourism agency said
Wednesday.

"The number of Japanese tourists to Korea has been on the increase since July as
the influence of the new flu (on summer travel) is decreasing," said an official
at the Korean Tourism Organization (KTO).
The number of Japanese travelers who visited South Korea rose 29.1 percent
year-on-year to 228,000 in July, while rising 27 percent to 240,000 in August,
according to data released by the KTO.
In the first four months of this year, the number of Japanese tourists to Korea
rose 50 percent from a year ago, but decreased sharply in May after the country
reported its first confirmed case of the new flu.
The number of Japanese tourists to Korea gained just 9.8 percent on-year to
209,000 in May, while it fell 0.7 percent to 181,000 in June.
The figures are expected to increase later this month as Japan enters a holiday
season from Sept. 19-23, the company said.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)