No. of visitors to Japan at record high 6.73 mil in 2005

TOKYO — The number of foreign tourists to Japan in 2005 is estimated at a record high 6.73 million, up 590,000 from the previous year, transport minister Kazuo Kitagawa said Tuesday.

The 2005 World Exposition in Aichi Prefecture from March to September contributed greatly to the second straight annual rise in the number of foreign tourists, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The number of travelers from Taiwan rose remarkably as Japan heavily campaigned there, Kitagawa told a news conference.