Visitor numbers to Japan hit record for May

Jun 21 (NHK) - The number of foreign visitors to Japan in May set a record for the month.

The Japan National Tourism Organization estimates that more than 2.6 million people came to Japan in May. That's up more than 16 percent from the figure for the same month of last year.

Organization officials say the number of individual travelers from China has been rising. They also point out that more airline routes were created between Japan and South Korea in May.

Mainland China was the largest source of visitors at about 668,000, up more than 29 percent year-on-year. South Korea was next at about 640,000, up over 14 percent.

The total figure from January through May was almost 13.2 million. That's up more than 15 percent year-on-year and a record for the period.

JNTO's top executive, Akihiko Tamura, said the organization has been promoting Japan through overseas events, as well as through the internet.

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