Korean Tourism

[hakz2007]

S Korea to develop DMZ into eco-tourism area

SEOUL, March 23 (Xinhua) -- South Korea is planning to develop the demilitarized zone (DMZ) that separates South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) into an eco-tourism area, according to local media.

The plan was unveiled by the Presidential Council on National Competitiveness on Tuesday. In cooperation with nine government agencies such as the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Unification, the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Environment, it will create an ecological peace belt along the southern part of the four kilometer-wide, 248 kilometer-long zone, extending from the western island of Ganghwa to the east coast city of Goseong, Seoul's state-run broadcaster KBS reported.

Under the plan, bike roads, an ecological peace park and a vacation center will be built in the area. Ten villages near the inter-Korean land border will be turned into cultural tourism villages open to visitors.

An observation center with high technology equipment will also be set up to watch and monitor the natural wildlife in the zone.

The council also plans to simplify the access procedures to attract more visitors to the area, which has been tightly controlled and off-limits to most civilians.

The DMZ was created by the armistice at the end of the Korean War in 1953 in order to keep a safe and protected distance between the South Korea and DPRK. This strip of land has been untouched by human hands since then and turned into a safe haven for more than 2,700 species of plants and animals.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english201...c_13222204.htm

[hakz2007]

Haeundae beach
by JerryD

image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr






First week of August that is the public holidays for all Koreans, the beach gets overcrowded. Some people spend their entire holidays on the beach!!!
Very few people use swimming dresses, mostly they keep their clothes on while swimming.
You can see a latet photo of the beach, 6 years later, not much has changed:

[hakz2007]

Tickets go on sale for first Korean F1 GP

South Korea hosted a lavish ceremony yesterday to launch ticket sales for its first ever Formula One race, saying the event would boost tourism and the country’s overseas image.

The Korean Grand Prix to be held on October 24 will be the 17th leg of the 19-race season, meaning it could be decisive in deciding who wins the world championship.

“Today’s ceremony heralds the virtual start of our F1 race,” South Jeolla provincial governor Park Joon-young told an audience of about 500 people including diplomats, government officials, businessmen and showbiz stars.

The race is expected to attract 200,000 local and foreign spectators, Park said, adding overseas visitors would see “a landmark for our tourism and auto industries.”

“I will also endeavor to change the pattern of our tourism industry and boost our national brand as well,” he said.

The Korea Auto Valley Operation (KAVO), a joint venture between a private firm and the provincial government, is building the Yeongam circuit 320km south of Seoul.

Organizers say the 5.6km track built on reclaimed land alongside an artificial seaside lake will be completed in July and boast the longest straight in Asia. The course can accommodate about 140,000 spectators, including 12,000 in the main stadium.

“We’ve done about 70 percent of work on the track, which is certain to satisfy both spectators and players,” construction manager Kang Man-ho said in a speech telecast live from Yeongam county.

Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Yu In-chon said the government was fully behind the country’s F1 debut.

“The government will extend all-out support for the success of the Korean Grand Prix as it is closely connected with culture, arts and tourism in our country,” he said.

KAVO will host the race once a year for seven years with an option to extend for five further years if arrangements with the International Automobile Federation are satisfactory.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/spor.../01/2003469465

[hakz2007]

Speakers Announced for Asia Global Healthcare & Medical Tourism Conference Korea

SEOUL, Korea, March 31 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Medical Tourism Association and the Korea Health Industry Development Institute are organizing the first Asia Global Healthcare & Medical Tourism Conference in Seoul, Korea, April 13-15th, 2010 with up to 800 attendees (http://www.AsiaMedicalTourismCongress.com), bringing in employers, international insurers and medical tourism facilitators to view the top quality of Asian healthcare and network with Asian Healthcare Providers. "We are attending on behalf of Partners Insurance, LLC. We will be representing over 3 million American lives, and will be implementing, and consulting with large insurance companies and employers regarding medical tourism. I am looking forward to seeing Asia's high quality healthcare," said Morgan Pile, Partners Insurance, LLC.

"Millions of patients travel for medical care each year from many countries and spend billions of dollars. This conference will focus on Asia which is one of the first regions to promote medical tourism and which has a very high quality of healthcare," said Renee-Marie Stephano, President of the MTA.

"Medical tourism is a progressive trend to which Green Crescent Insurance Company offers extensive global coverage to members. A gathering such as this opens new doors for the providers and receivers of healthcare. We are happy to explore new areas to be included in our global coverage policy which in turn will benefit our members. In this respect Green Crescent is pleased to be attending the 1st Global Healthcare & Medical Tourism Conference Korea," said Mac McClelland, Green Crescent Insurance Company.

The conference will feature up to 800 attendees, and up to 60 speakers.

Read the rest here.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20100331/pl_usnw/DC79432_1

[hakz2007]

N. Korea Scraps South’s Tour Project, Freezes Assets

April 9 (Bloomberg) -- North Korea said it will scrap a mountain resort project with South Korea and seek a new partner in what may be an attempt to persuade its neighbor to resume cross-border tours suspended in 2008.

North Korea will replace Seoul-based Hyundai Asan Corp. as operator of the Mount Geumgang resort as the agreement is no longer valid, the state-run Korean Central News Agency said late yesterday in a statement. The government will freeze some real estate assets at the resort and expel employees, KCNA said.

Kim Jong Il’s regime is mounting a campaign to raise cash after it was placed under tougher United Nations sanctions that ban arms trading, following its second nuclear test in May 2009. The resort action comes amid growing speculation North Korea may have been involved in the March 26 sinking of a South Korean navy ship, which left 46 sailors dead or missing.

Economic losses at Mount Geumgang are “enormous” because of the “long suspension,” North Korea’s General Guidance Bureau for the Development of Scenic Spots said in a statement. “The confiscation of all real estate and facilities of the south side in the tourist zone would not be enough to compensate for them.”

Tourist Killed

South Korea suspended the tours after a North Korean soldier shot and killed a 53-year-old South Korean tourist at the Geumgang resort in July 2008. North Korea’s latest measures are in violation of inter-Korean agreements and should be withdrawn immediately, Chun Hae Sung, a spokesman at the Seoul- based Unification Ministry told reporters today.

“We urge both governments to engage in serious and productive dialogue,” Hyundai Asan, operator of the 12-year-old resort, said today in an e-mailed statement. “We hope the situation doesn’t worsen.”

Shares of closely held Hyundai Asan’s affiliates dropped in Seoul trading. Hyundai Merchant Marine Co., the biggest shareholder of Hyundai Asan, closed 1.2 percent lower after dropping as much as 3.6 percent. Hyundai Elevator Co. fell 1.5 percent while Hyundai Securities Co. lost 1.7 percent.

Hyundai Asan’s parent Hyundai Group started the Mount Geumgang tours in 1998 and has since expanded projects with North Korea. Hyundai Group founder Chung Ju Yung, who was born in what is now part of North Korea, secured the Geumgang project when he traveled to North Korea in 1989.

At War

The late Chung met Kim in 1998 when he took hundreds of cows across the demilitarized zone to the North. The two countries remain technically at war since their 1950-53 conflict ended in a cease-fire, which was never replaced by a peace treaty.

North Korea said last month it might seize assets at the mountain resort unless South Koreans complied with a survey of the assets. South Korea’s government blocked most of the people wishing to come to North Korea to take part in the survey conducted until March 31, Kim’s regime said.

“We came to finally confirm the fact that the puppet group has neither guilty conscience nor iota of will to improve the inter-Korean relations,” North Korea’s Guidance Bureau said. “It is only hell-bent on confrontation, much less wishing to resume the tour.”

North Korea will freeze operations at a reunion center, a fire brigade, a cultural center, a hot spring resort and a tax office, KCNA said, adding that more facilities will be frozen. It will also reexamine the operation of an industrial complex in the border city of Gaeseong jointly operated by the two countries, according to the statement.

Submarine Activity

South Korea’s Defense Minister Kim Tae Young told lawmakers on April 2 his military lost track of North Korean submarines that patrol northern waters between March 24 and 27, fueling speculation of possible North Korean involvement in the sinking of the 1,200-ton Cheonan. He didn’t rule out the possibility that a torpedo may have caused the ship to split apart.

North Korea, which has boycotted international talks on its nuclear program for a year, may join “preliminary” discussions on the issue, Yonhap News agency reported today, citing a South Korean official it didn’t identify.

North Korea has told China of its willingness on condition the U.S. agrees to bilateral talks, Yonhap said. The six-party forum, which last met in December 2008, also involves Japan, Russia and South Korea.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?s...E&pid=20601087

[hakz2007]

S. Korea unfazed by N. Korean pressure over tourism

SEOUL, April 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is refusing to budge despite North Korean pressure over a troubled joint tourism program, denouncing Pyongyang's decision to freeze South Korean assets at a mountain resort and vowing to hold the North responsible for any damage to those properties.

"The government, as it has already stated, remains convinced that the North's unilateral actions must immediately be retracted as they will violate the North's contracts with (South Korean) businesses, as well as international regulations," Chun Hae-sung, spokesman for Seoul's unification ministry, told a press briefing.

North Korea said last week that it would freeze five South Korean facilities at its Mount Kumgang resort and find a new partner for the mountain tours, the latest in a series of threats Pyongyang has made to press Seoul to resume the lucrative tours.

The tours, which had been a key symbol of inter-Korean cooperation, were suspended in 2008 after a South Korean woman was shot dead by a North Korean guard in a restricted area near the resort.

The ministry spokesman said it was still not clear what the freezing of the South Korean assets at Mount Kumgang will do to the assets or the cross-border tourism program that began in 1998, but that Pyongyang will be responsible for any damage.

"The government also makes it clear that North Korea will be responsible for any damage" caused by the freezing of South Korean assets, Chun said.

He also said the government will comply with the North's demand that Seoul send officials to Mount Kumgang on Tuesday to witness the taking control of five South Korean facilities there that include a family reunion center and a duty free shop.

South Korea says it will not resume the tours until the North first agrees to provide a state-to-state guarantee of tourist safety, while Pyongyang claims it has already given guarantees in talks with Hyundai Asan, the South Korean developer and operator of the Mount Kumgang resort.

On Saturday, North Korea has also threatened to take "decisive measures" unless Seoul puts an end to what the North says is an anti-Pyongyang propaganda campaign. As a first step, the North said it could reject military agreements on the passage of South Koreans across the heavily armed border.

Chun said the North has yet to take any measures to block entry or exit of South Korean businesspeople, adding some 930 South Koreans were scheduled to visit either Mount Kumgang or the joint industrial complex near the North's border town of Kaesong on Monday alone.

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/nort...03600315F.HTML

[hakz2007]

Number of foreign tourists to S. Korea rises in March: KTO

SEOUL, April 14 (PNA/Yonhap) -- The number of foreign tourists to South Korea is estimated to have risen in March, due mainly to an increased number of Chinese visitors, the country's state-run tourism company said Wednesday.

The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) estimates that 750,000 foreign tourists visited the country last month, up between 3 and 5 percent from a year earlier.

In February, the number of foreign tourists dropped 4.2 percent to 639,000 and fell 6.3 percent to 569,000 in January, the agency said.

The KTO attributed the March increase to a growing number of Chinese tourists, adding that Chinese employers are increasingly offering incentive travel packages to Korea and that travelers are turning away from Thailand because of political unrest there.

The number of Chinese visitors is expected to jump around 20 percent from a year ago to top 130,000 in March, it said.

In January and February, the country saw the number of Chinese tourists fall 1.9 percent and rise only 9.8 percent, respectively, from a year earlier.

Meanwhile, the number of Japanese visitors fell 7 percent from a year ago in March, showing a sign of recovery from the month before, when it dropped 22 percent. (PNA/Yonhap)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=...d=6&rid=269685

[daniel_latinamerican]

wauuu, hay mucha gente por ahi, parece un sitio bonito para pasar las vacaciones. FELICIDADES A LOS COREANOS POR TENER UN PAIS BONITO!

[hakz2007]

S. Korea completes world's longest seawall

SEOUL, April 26 (PNA/Yonhap) -- South Korea has completed the world's longest seawall, blocking in a reclaimed tidal flat the government hopes to transform into a large-scale industrial, tourism and agricultural site by 2020, the farm ministry said Monday.

The Saemangeum tidal flat, located 280 kilometers south of Seoul on the west coast, is to be turned into 40.100 hectares of land and fresh water lakes and help the country to become a leading economic hub of Northeast Asia, according to the ministry.

"The 33.9 kilometer-long seawall is 1.4 kilometers longer than the current world record-holding dike at the Zuiderzee Works in the Netherlands," Yang Tae-seon, assistant minister for planning and coordination, said.

Work on the project began in 1991 with 2.9 trillion won (US$ 2.6 billion) used so far on construction.

On average, 2.37 million workers were employed on an annual basis, with 123 million cubic meters of earth used to build the mammoth structure.

The government will hold a ceremony on Sinsi Island at the center of the seawall on Tuesday marking its dedication with 2,000 domestic and foreign guests.

The ceremony will also mark the official opening of a four-lane highway on the seawall which connects Buan with the port city of Gunsan.

"Construction was carried out to minimize environmental repercussions with regular sea sand used as a building material," Yang said.

He claimed the knowhow acquired through the project has given the country world-class competitiveness in this field and may serve to help build foreign projects down the road.

Many developing countries are interested in reclamation works to create more arable land and obtain fresh water.

The assistant minister said that compared to foreign reclamation projects that have taken place in shallow waters of less than 20 meters, Saemangeum's seawall was built in waters with an average depth 34 meters, with the deepest part of the wall going down 54m below the surface of the sea.

"The fast moving current that reached 7m per second during high and low tide was also a challenge that helped improve the level of expertise of on-site engineers," Yang said.

The ministry and the state-run Korea Rural Community Corp. (KRC), which was in charge of the building project, said that in addition to creating new land, the seawall will likely become a tourist attraction since it is designed to give cars a clear view of the ocean and offer numerous rest areas for people to stop and take in the scenic view.

"The seawall is expected to become a landmark tourist attraction in the region as well as reducing the time it takes to travel from Buan to Gunsan and to the nearby four islands, including Sinsi Island. that were only accessible by boat in the past," a KRC official said.

At present, the winding route takes 90 minutes by car, but this will be cut to less than 30 minutes. This could help expand transportation infrastructure in the region and contribute to long-term economic growth, the KRC said.

The knowledge economy, agriculture, environment and culture ministries that are responsible for developing the reclaimed land said Saemangeum will be developed into eight distinct regions in the coming years.

Land reclaimed from the sea bottom will be used for farming, industrial manufacturing, tourism and leisure and renewable energy.

Roughly 54 kilometers of internal walls to separate land from the fresh water lake are to be built by 2015, with the construction for the foundation of land to start in 2011 for completion in 10 years.

Sources said disagreements on building 23 kilometers of the inside wall are to be resolved in the first half of this year after consultation with experts.

There has been disagreement between the Ministry of Environment and the KRC on the need for some of the internal wall, which had held up initial development plans. (PNA/Yonhap)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=...d=4&rid=272008

[hakz2007]

S. Korea expects 
10m visitors by 2012

(MENAFN - Khaleej Times) The Korea Tourism Organisation (KTO) aims to attract 10 million foreign visitors by 2012, almost 30 per cent higher than it received in 2009.

The KTO announced the launch of ‘Visit Korea Year 2010-2012’ campaign in the Gulf at the Arabian Travel Market . It also announced a new comedy TV programme in Arabic on Al Aan TV titled ‘Korean, Not Korean’.

Baeho Kim, the Regional Director for KTO, Dubai introduced the campaign which will be running over a three-year period aiming to introduce the elegance and flavour to tourists visiting South Korea with a slew of offers and promotions. He said no visa is required for most of the GCC people.

Commenting on Korea’s tourism growth, Kim said that about 7.8 million travellers visited Korea last year, a 13.5 per cent increase over 2008, and 8.5 million travellers are expected to visit Korea by the end of this year.

“With the three-year long campaign, Korea aims to attract 10 million foreign visitors by 2012. Though Korea has been well known for its high-technology products such as Samsung and LG in this region, the country is also rapidly emerging as one of the major leisure destinations in Asia, he said.

Shafiq Ibrahim, Marketing Manager of KTO at its Dubai office said that the tourism industry of the country generated around $9.4 billion in revenues in 2009. Korea welcomed 69,000 tourists from the Middle East last year, he added.

The KTO Dubai Office promotes Korea as a new family destination which is safe, clean and friendly, and aims to attract 100,000 visitors from the region this year.

Commenting on the partnership between Al Aan TV and KTO, Ihab Al Khosousy, Regional Sales Manager at Al Aan TV, said: “The new show ‘Korean, Not Korean’ will introduce South Korea as an auspicious tourism destination in a new and distinguished style”

The Visit Korea Year committee has planned to offer special incentive programmes, such as ‘Seoul Grand Sale’ where tourists can enjoy discounts at a lot of participating outlets. Visitors can also avail the benefits of special accommodation package programmes, which allow tourists to receive an extra night free after staying three or four nights in participating hotels around the country. Additionally, tourists can access discounts on tickets for travelling within the country by road, rail or boat. To ensure round-the-clock tourism service, KTO operates a 24-hour interpreter service for all foreign tourists.

A variety of festivals await the visitors such as the Hallyu Dream Festival, Busan Fireworks Festival, Korean Food Festival, Jeju Ole Trekking Festival, Tae-an Environment Festival, DMZ and Tourism World Peace Music Festival and World Culture Festival during this period.

http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story_...yId=1093329693

[Mussoda]

amazing,, if it reaches 10m then..

[hakz2007]

yeah...and it will really contribute to Korean economy

[hakz2007]

South Korea unveils new measures to attract foreign tourists

South Korea unveils new measures to attract foreign tourists AFP/File – Tourists use binoculars to look to look toward North Korea from an observation post in Paju near the the demilitarized zone.

SEOUL (AFP) – South Korea Thursday unveiled new measures such as development of ecological attractions to attract more foreign tourists, especially from China.

Six new quays for cruise ships will be created on the southern resort island of Jeju and in the western port city of Incheon and other coastal towns, the tourism ministry said.

The government will establish some 1,500 kilometres (932 miles) of eco-friendly trails with state money, it said.

South Korea aims to attract 12 million foreign tourists annually by 2014, compared with 7.8 million last year, the ministry said.

It said visa restrictions for Chinese low- and mid-budget tourists would be eased and all tourist signs would feature the Chinese and Japanese languages.

"Our government expects these measures will help attract Chinese tourists preemptively, as they are emerging as the major customer of the world's tourism market," Tourism minister Yu In-Chon told reporters.

South Korea has seen a steep increase in Chinese tourists in recent years.

Some 1.46 million Japanese tourists came during the first half of this year, down four percent from the same period last year, while Chinese tourists increased by 35 percent to 819,000.

The ministry's new measures were unveiled at a meeting chaired by President Lee Myung-Bak in Nami, a resort island east of Seoul, where "Winter Sonata," a popular Korean drama series broadcast throughout Asia, was filmed.

The small island in the middle of a river has attracted hundreds of thousands of tourists from Japan, China and Southeast Asian countries.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100715...20100715160927

[ashraf abdullah]

hello...
i am malaysian and muslim
i found myself interested in korean cuisine.
i looks colourful and mouth-watering
however,i strictly have to follow the custom of my religion and halal standard.
sadly said, not all korean food i could try on.eventhough the pork can be substituted by the meat @ mutton.
i hope, korean will seek halal market of korean food,because it can be huge potential to be explored.

[hakz2007]

Originally Posted by ashraf abdullah

hello...
i am malaysian and muslim
i found myself interested in korean cuisine.
i looks colourful and mouth-watering
however,i strictly have to follow the custom of my religion and halal standard.
sadly said, not all korean food i could try on.eventhough the pork can be substituted by the meat @ mutton.
i hope, korean will seek halal market of korean food,because it can be huge potential to be explored.

Assalamu Alykum, ashraf!

I am a Muslim too...when I am in doubt of a food, I don't buy and eat it. It's better to be safe.

[SuCumaethor]

I didn't find any appropriate thread where I could ask a few questions... So I hope it's not a problem if I ask here.
I was looking at pictures of Jeju-do island and I found it very similar to the mediterranean coastline palm trees, beautiful hotels and beaches... But I didn't see anybody sunbathing or swimming, only walking on Jeju-do beaches. So I was wondering why is it? Is Jeju-do coastline dangerous or cold or...? I was expecting crowded beaches.
Secondly, how come there aren't any macaques in Korea? Korea is very close to Japan, and I think Jeju-do island and the southern part of mainland have better climates then Japan's middle island...
Thank you in advance

[hakz2007]

Over 3 mln Chinese tourists expected to visit S. Korea in 2012

SEOUL, Sept 28 (Yonhap) -- The number of Chinese tourists visiting South Korea is forecast to continue to grow in coming years, exceeding the 3 million mark in 2012, the state-run tourism agency said Tuesday.

A total of 1.26 million Chinese visited South Korea in the first eight months of this year, up 44.6 percent from a year ago, the Korean Tourism Organization (KTO) said. In 2009, 1.34 million Chinese traveled to South Korea.

During the January-August period, 1.95 million Japanese made trips to South Korea, down 2.7 percent from a year ago, the KTO said.

"If this trend continues, the number of Chinese tourists to South Korea will surpass 2 million this year and 3 million in 2012," said Park Jeong-ha, a KTO official.

Park said the government's overhaul of its visa issuance system will be a positive factor to attract more Chinese tourists. South Korea streamlined procedures to issue visas for Chinese from Aug. 1.

However, the number of Japanese tourists visiting South Korea is expected to fall slightly in the coming years, given the recent trend, Park said.

http://www.mcot.net/cfcustom/cache_page/108118.html

NK seeking to resume tourism project

North Korea appears to be seeking to resume the tours by South Koreans to Mt. Geumgang, which have been suspended since July 2008 following the fatal shooting of a tourist, through the ongoing Red Cross talks, observers here said Friday.

The Red Cross officials of the two Koreas met Friday in the North’s city of Gaeseong for the second time in a week for talks aimed at resuming reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War.

The sides, which remain technically at war after the 1950-53 war ended in a truce, failed to agree on the venue for such reunions when they met in Gaeseong last Friday.

Analysts say the North appears to be trying to coax South Korea into resuming its cross-border tours to the Mt. Geumgang resort.

Since a South Korean woman was shot dead while wandering near the resort in July 2008, Seoul has suspended the tours, demanding Pyongyang allow an on-site probe and eliminate safety concerns.

Angry with the suspension, North Korea has either frozen or seized all South Korean facilities at the resort earlier this year, lambasting Seoul for losses that it has incurred due to the suspension of the tours.

North Korea said earlier this week it would send two officials in charge of the tourism project to the new round of negotiations on family reunions in Gaeseong. The South, which does not acknowledge the validity of the North’s seizure of its facilities, responded by saying that its existing Red Cross delegates would be tasked with handling the issue.

“The discussions will revolve around the reunion venue for the moment,” Kim Eyi-do, a South Korean Unification Ministry official who heads the Red Cross delegation, told reporters before departing for the North for the new round of talks.

The unification ministry only said it couldn’t confirm anything with regard to the Mt. Geumgang tour.

Beginning in 1998, the tour operated by South’s Hyundai Asan has drawn more than 1 million tourists. After a decade of operation it was suspended in 2008 after a 53-year-old South Korean tourist was shot dead while walking along the resort’s beach. The North claimed the tourist, who entered the off-limit military zone, was to blame, while the South demanded an on-the-spot inquest, which the North refused to do.

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news...116_73468.html

[TheKorean]

Originally Posted by ashraf abdullah

hello...
i am malaysian and muslim
i found myself interested in korean cuisine.
i looks colourful and mouth-watering
however,i strictly have to follow the custom of my religion and halal standard.
sadly said, not all korean food i could try on.eventhough the pork can be substituted by the meat @ mutton.
i hope, korean will seek halal market of korean food,because it can be huge potential to be explored.

You can always go vegetarian.

Whatever the monks eat at their Buddhist temple, its a safe bet that they are Halal foods. Since its all vegetables.

Its too bad though. Can you eat beef? I think my Muslim friend told me that he eats beef. He just cant eat pork and some seafood.

[hakz2007]

G20 host South Korea needs to improve tourism infrastructure

South Korea, the host of next month's G-20 economic summit, must invest more money in its tourism industry, said Lee Charm, president of Korea Tourism Organization (KTO).

In an article in The Korea Times, Charm said he sees huge potential in Korean tourism and that the G20 meeting might serve as a fresh catalyst for the world to learn about the country.

“We must recognize the importance of the [tourism] industry,” he said. “As Korea’s IT industry became globally competitive on huge investment, we must invest more in the [tourism] sector.”

J. Michael Oh, a portfolio manager at San Francisco-based Matthews International Capital Management recently visited South Korea and noted that tourism from China is on the rise and expected to become a large part of Korea's future tourism business.

“Already a popular destination for Japanese tourists for many years, Korea is now also becoming a top destination for Chinese travelers,” Oh said. “After Japanese tourists, the Chinese have become the second-largest group to visit Korea, with nearly 1.3 million visitors from January to August this year, about a 45 percent increase from the same period last year.”

Chinese are now the fastest growing group of visitors to Korea, according to the KTO.

According to KTO, in August 2010, about 834,000 foreign visitors arrived in the country (versus 696,000 last August). About 31.4 percent of them came from Japan and 29 percent from China. Only 7 percent and 6.8 percent came from Europe and the U.S., respectively.

Year-to-date through August, Korea has seen about 5.7-million foreign arrivals, compared with 5.1-million for the year-ago period.

In addition, Oh said, Chinese visitors have become the largest spenders, beating out Japanese tourists, who have long held that distinction.

Oh cited a recent survey which revealed that Chinese tourists are spending about double what Japanese visitors are spending at large department store chains in South Korea.

“While visiting one of Seoul’s busiest shopping districts, I noticed that merchants who can speak basic Chinese are now prevalent,” Oh said. “Learning Chinese is becoming a must for retailers not only in Seoul’s popular shopping areas, but throughout Korea.”

Also, as an illustration of China's growing economic presence in South Korea, some affluent Chinese tourists are buying vacation homes in Korea.

“Half of all available units at a new resort development on Jeju Island, one of Korea’s most popular tourist destinations, were bought by Chinese nationals,” Oh indicated.

“Affluent Chinese buyers are attracted to the island not only for its clear waters and calm weather but also for its proximity to China --- an hour and a half plane ride from Beijing. In addition, Jeju’s provincial government offers permanent resident status to foreigners who invest more than $500,000 and reside on the island for at least five years.”

In fact, the Korean government also eased visa restrictions for Chinese tourists, and hopes to eliminate the need for visas from them in the future.

Seoul City officials are already planning to expand accommodation as part of efforts to attract 5 million Chinese tourists per year by 2014.

“We will discuss with the central government to allow no-visa entry for Chinese visitors and reduced documentation for those coming from Southeast Asia under a long-term plan,” said Ahn Seung-il, a Seoul City official.

However, in order to fulfill its grander ambition of remaking itself into a top tourist destination, Oh suggests that South Korea needs to improve its general tourism infrastructure and “develop more attractions and events that are uniquely Korean.”

As an example, he cites the Baekje World Festival, an event that celebrates the history and culture of the Baekje Kingdom, a dynasty that lasted 678 years from 18 BC to 660 AD.

“Unfortunately, Korea still lacks an adequate number of hotel rooms and foreigner-friendly restaurants to accommodate a larger number of tourists,” Oh added.

“Travelers from abroad also complain about menus, traffic signs and information that are not translated into foreign languages. If Korea can restyle itself as a premier travel destination, a strong tourism industry could significantly benefit the Korean economy. Tourism is already a major industry in many other countries and can be another source of growth for Korea in the future.”

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/7021...hina-japan.htm

[hakz2007]

Tourism roadshow starts in South Korea

QTA officials and members of the tourism industry in Qatar met with more than 65 travel trade professionals in the South Korean capital “to boost awareness of Qatar’s tourism offerings as a destination for MICE travel (meetings, incentive, convention, exhibition), sport, culture and upscale leisure tourism”.

Ahmed al- Nuaimi, chairman of QTA said: “Qatar Tourism Authority has organised this roadshow to deepen our ties and to build new relationships with tourism and travel professionals in Seoul and other major cities on the tour. Through this roadshow we aim to build networks facilitating future business between Qatar and the Republic of Korea.”
During the day, Qatar delegates held meetings with professionals from the business travel industry in Seoul. The event ended with a reception which was attended by Ali Hamad Mubarak al- Marri, Qatar’s Ambassador to Korea, as well as many Middle East ambassadors based in Korea. Officials from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Tourism Organisation were also present.

Many professionals from the Korean travel trade learnt about Qatar at the event.

QTA officials are accompanied by a delegation from the hospitality, culture, sports and leisure sectors in Qatar. Participating organisations include Aspire Zone, Asian Cup Qatar Committee, Fal Travelmart Travel and Tours, Grand Hyatt Doha, Grand Regency Hotel, Movenpick Tower & Suites, Qatar Airways, Qatar Airways Holidays, Qatar 2022 Bid Committee, Qatar International Adventures, Qatar International Tours, Regency Holidays, Ritz-Carlton Doha, Shangri-La Hotel, Sharq Village & Spa, Unique Choice Qatar and W Hotel Doha.

The cities on the roadshow list include Seoul, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur, with the campaign finishing at ITB Asia in Singapore.

Qatar Tourism Authority has been given the mandate by the Qatari government to organise, enable and supervise the tourism industry in Qatar. Under this mandate, QTA promotes Qatar as an upscale destination at international travel shows targeting the lucrative meetings, exhibitions, incentives and luxury travel industries.

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