ATAMI, Shizuoka Pref. -- Ryuichiro Mori, sales manager at Hotel New Akao, sees one emerging ray of hope for this hot-spring city mired in a long-term slump: a group tourism boom in Taiwan, South Korea and China.

Since the major resort hotel, which boasts a 48-year history, sent its first overseas marketing mission to Taiwan in 2000, the results have been surprising.

Customers at the hotel from other parts of Asia skyrocketed from 900 in 2000 to 3,000 in 2001. Most were from Taiwan.