Japanese travel agencies are expanding their Chinese operations as Japanese tourists' demand to travel to the country recovers. China has seen an increase in the number of Japanese tourists this year after the number shrunk 20 per cent to 2.25 million in 2003, following the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) outbreak in China.

JTB CORP., through a subsidiary, has established travel consulting units in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou to meet demand for China-Japan trips.

KINKI NIPPON TOURIST CO. (TSE:9726) will apply with the Chinese authorities by the end of November to set up a subsidiary in Beijing. (Asia in Focus)