2010-07 - Korea IT Times

Cover Story
Foreign Tourists get special benefits
during Vist Korea Year
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) of
Korea implements its programs during the Visit Korea Year
to attract more foreign tourists. "The 2010~2012 Visit Korea
Year Committee (VKC) is making a strong push for four
major projects in 2010 - differentiated overseas marketing by
market, affluent incentives for foreign tourists when they visit
Korea, special events offering something to see and enjoy,
and a campaign to improve greeting services for foreign
tourists," Dr. Cho Hyun-jae, Director General of the
Tourism Industry Bureau of MCST, said. The MCST aims
to attract more than 10 million foreign tourists every year, attain
over USD13 billion in tourism revenue and secure a No.
21 position in terms of global tourism competitiveness.
Dr. Cho Hyun-jae, Director General of Tourism Industry Bureau of MCST
Kim Yu-na, Bae Yong-jun, PR ambassadors
Related to this, the 2009 Olympic figure skating
champion Kim Yu-na and famous 'Hallyu" star Bae
Yong-jun are serving as PR ambassadors for the Visit
Korea Year. "First of all, we plan to dispatch a special
tourism sales promotion team to China and Japan to
attract tourists from neighboring countries. We will also
stage active PR marketing by holding regular explanatory
meetings to introduce Korea's tourism resources
to foreigners at overseas offices of Korea
Tourism Organization," Dr. Cho said. He said, "In
particular, the committee will engage in active promotion
activity to help foreign tourists attend such global
Kim Yu-na(left), Bae Yong-jun are serving as PR ambassador for the Visit Korea Year
events to be held in South Korea such as the World
Design Capital Seoul 2010, the World Championships in Athletics Daegu 2011 and International Exposition Yeosu Korea 2012."
To let foreign tourists see the attractive appearances of provincial regions in the country, VKC also plans to hold the 2010 Hallyu
Festival in Gyeongju, the World Food Tourism Festival in Jeonju, and Busan's Fireworks Festival. Dr. Cho said, "For development
of high-quality tourism products linked with the festivals, the committee is maintaining close tie-ups with relevant provincial governments."
He continued to say, "In addition, it will stage the welcoming service campaign for foreign tourists with the start of the
inauguration of the Smile Supporters' group comprising college students."
Incentives for foreign tourists
MCST (www.mcst.go.kr) is also implementing a program to decentralize foreign tourists centering on Seoul to provincial regions
and attract more foreign tourists by offering incentives to shopping centers and lodging facilities. "For instance, more than 20
hotels are applying the 'one more night program' to foreign visitors, with which they can stay one more night at hotel in case of more
than three-night stay in Korea," Dr. Cho said. "Besides, many shopping centers across the country are holding the Korea Grand
Sale event, which provides foreign tourists with various incentives, including discount coupon service," he added.
Yeon Choul-woong/ bruceyeon@koreaittimes.com
www.koreaittimes.com 19