Kumanichi reports on positive aviation news. The article is a bit lengthy, so I’ll summarize:
- Kumamoto Airport now has four international routes - Seoul, Gaoxsiung (Taiwan), and Hong Kong. The fourth, to Pusan, commenced from 12/15.
- Flights are charter-style conducted by LCCs (HK Air, Tea Way Airlines, Airsoul, and JAL to Taiwan).
- Due to its central location, Kumamoto has proven a popular alternative gateway to Fukuoka for Asian visitors.
- The Kumamoto prefectural government provides various subsidies averaging 2,500 yen per passenger.
- Between April and October of this year, international travelers amounted to 46,931, 4.8 times over the same period last year, and seems set to exceed the all-time high of 75,567 passengers set in fiscal year 2015.
- Due to the increase in international flights, the number of overseas guests at hotels and inns in the prefecture has recovered to the same level as before the quakes. Governor Kamoshima says, “By increasing the number of tourists from overseas through the resumption of three international routes,” - now four by my count - “we can contribute to the economic development of Kumamoto.”
Photos and a bar graph of passenger number are at the link. - William
