Oct 31 (NHK) - The number of people who stayed at hotels and other accommodations in Japan fell by almost half in September compared with a year earlier.
It was the eighth straight monthly drop due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Japan Tourism Agency says the number was just over 25 million last month. That's down 47.6 percent. The figure in May plunged more than 80 percent.
The decline has been shrinking gradually since the government's "Go To Travel" campaign to promote domestic tourism began in late July.
The Agency expects the recovery will continue as Tokyo was included in the campaign from October.
The program offers discounts and coupons for travelers. But the sales of travel packages covered by the campaign are scheduled to end in January.
Japanese Tourism Minister Akaba Kazuyoshi said the number of visitors who are using tourist facilities is on the increase. He said people in the travel industry are expressing hope the campaign will be extended.
Akaba said he would carefully consider an extension for the campaign.
