NEWS ON JAPAN
 
The number of people in Japan who will make overnight or longer travels during the year-end and New Year holiday period will total 30.45 million, the second largest since comparable data became available in 1996, JTB Corp. estimated Monday.

The major Japanese travel agency said the number based on its survey for the Dec. 23-Jan. 3 period is down 0.3 pct from a record high in the year-before survey but above 30 million for the second consecutive year.
JTB attributed the big number to up to nine consecutive days off possible including public holidays, saying travel demand is brisk.
 
The number of people planning domestic trips including those to their hometowns is estimated to reach 29,771,000, down 0.2 pct, marking the second largest on record, JTB said.