More Russian tourists can visit Japan if transportation expenses drop following a tough competition among the airlines, head of the Russian Federal Tourism Agency told a press conference held in the context of travel agencies exhibition in Japan.
      The recent analysis shows a steady rise of “travelers’ turnover” between Russia and Japan. In 2004, round 100,000 Japanese visited Russia with 60,000 holidaymakers among them. About 170,000 Russians, with approximately 25,000 tourists, traveled to Japan.
      It was stressed that huge obstacles are still standing in the way for the travelers – plane tickets are too expensive, it takes too much time to get visa, translators are in great demand and there exists too few tourist routes to follow. At the same time, there is an information gap – few Russians know what kind of holiday opportunities Japan can offer.
      Since the transportation is really profitable he competition among the airlines is to be promoted to reduce tickets prices manifoldly provided charter programs are introduced.