Local News

The Bank of Saga has begun handling Chinese and Korean currency. The primary impetus for the move was that Spring Airlines of China will begin operating regularly scheduled charter flights between Shanghai and Saga this year. The bank hopes this will facilitate an increase in the number of tourists to such prefecture locations as Ureshino and Takeo. In 2009, 21,090 foreign travelers spent at least one night in Saga, 9,716 of whom were from South Korea and 2,257 of whom were from China. That accounts for 57% of the total.