*Japan, China and Koreatogether try to create tourism Big Bang

Japan, China and Korea decided to develop tourism exchanges jointly through "Japan, China and Korea Tourism Big Bang" efforts on July 2 this year, when tourism ministers of the three countries met inAkan, Hokkaido for the first time. The agreement calls for increaseof tourist exchanges among the three countries from about 12 million for 2005 to more than 17 million for 2010. Kazuo Kitagawa, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of Japan, said, "It is a minimum target. I hope to achieve tourist exchanges of more than 20 million before 2010."

This Week Headline
*Japan, China and Korea together tryto create tourism Big Bang
+Three tourism ministers eachshow their enthusiasms for the future cooperation
+Private tourism sectors alsostep forward for expansion of tourism exchanges
*JAL ties up with JTB for overseas charter flight products
*JTB forecasts 5% more Japanese tourists will go abroad this summer
*HIS has received 20% more bookings this summer
*Yahoo! Travel has doubled bookings this summer
*JAL expects to raise capital of 200 billion yen
*Narita 1st PTB enjoys increasing sales from retail shops
*Narita estimates to handle 2.4% more passengers during summer vacation
*Transport Minister says: "The Narita runway project must be completed in FY2009"
*JAL air transport result for May 2006