*Minister Fuyushiba is ambitious to accomplish 8 million foreign visitors

Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Tetsuzo Fuyushiba made a New Year remark at a New Year party with travel industries on January 10 this year that the government is making every effort to welcome8 million foreign visitors this year. The number of foreign visitors for the first eleven months of 2006 was up 8.6% to 6,748,700 overthe same period 2005. The annual number is expected to total 7.3 million foreign visitors, slightly short of the initial target of 7.5million. To accomplish the target in 2007, year-on-year growth of 10% will be required.

This Week Headline
*Minister Fuyushiba is ambitious to accomplish 8 million foreign visitors
*JATA Chairman: "The travel industry needs new sensitivity to the times"
*Skygate begins dealing with dynamicpackages online
*ANA carried the most-ever international passengers during this New Year
*JAL is to provide first class seats on domestic flights
*JAL will cut almost 3,000 jobs for next three years
*Narita achieved the most-ever users during the New Year holiday season
*JAL and ANA increased New Year international flight passengers from Centrair
*Hiroshima handled the most-ever international flight passengers in 2006
*JAL air transport result for November 2006