Vacationers returning from overseas peak at Narita airport

NARITA, Japan, Jan. 3 Kyodo -
Overseas vacationers and other travelers crowded Narita International Airport
on Saturday, which is expected to see the largest number of arrivals during the
year-end, New Year's holiday season.
Narita International Airport Corp. expects around 47,800 arrivals on Saturday
alone at the nation's largest international gateway, serving Tokyo. It is
projecting 46,800 arriving passengers on Sunday and 43,900 on Monday.
Many vacationers from Japan apparently chose South Korea, Guam and other
destinations relatively close to home and took advantage of the current strong
yen against many other currencies.
The airport operator said it is anticipating that the global economic downturn
will dampen travel demand and reduce passenger traffic by around 10 percent
during the holiday period compared with last year.
Kansai International Airport, serving the Osaka metropolitan area, said the
''return rush'' of travelers from abroad also started and it expects around
19,800 arrivals on Saturday alone. The peak is expected to be on Sunday with
around 19,900 people arriving, according to Kansai International Airport Co.
==Kyodo