The major travel agencies are chartering an increasing number of jumbo jets to offer bargain-priced package tours to "rather unusual" tourist destinations across the world.
Some 17 million Japanese a year fly overseas, according to government statistics. Among them are what the tourism and aviation industries might call "connoisseur tourists."
These travelers have developed interests in less-common spots, including St. Petersburg's Hermitage Museum or the Alaskan glaciers, and the industry must cater to those needs, travel agency officials said.
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