*Kinki and Hankyu are authorized to launch independent companies in China

Shao Qiwei, director of the China National Tourism Administration, revealed at China-Japan Tourism Exchange Promotion Conference on July 26 that the Chinese government has authorized Kinki Nippon Tourist (KNT)and Hankyu Express International to launch independent travel companies in China. Those will be the fourth and the fifth travel agentsthat establish independent travel companies in China, following JALPAK (Beijing), ANA Sales (Beijing) and Nippon Travel Agency (Shanghai).
At the same time, NOE, Hitachi Travel Bureau and Toyota Tourist are authorized to open business offices in China.

This Week Headline
*Kinki and Hankyu are authorized to launch independent companies in China
*JTBF forecasts 17.5 million Japanese tourists go overseas for 2005
*Japanese departures for the first half of 2005 were the second most ever
*JTB decides a new business system with 13 local companies
*Centrair expects to welcome 10 million visitors in August
+23% more passengers for June than Nagoya Airport a year ago
*International flight bookings this summer are lower than a year ago
*Kansai handled 10% passengers for June this year
*A share of air transport between Tokyo and Osaka doubles for the last decade
*Domestic flight passengers grew in June after a while
*JAA enjoys increasing passengers every month