Northstar

www.travelweekly-asia.com 18 OC TOBER 2018 TRAVEL WEEKLY ASIA I T B A S I A S H O W D A I L I E S 21 T he Seoul Tourism Organisation (STO) is poised to invite tourists from around the world to experience "peace tourism", even as it thrives with today's hallyu-themed attractions and activities. Hallyu, loosely translated as the "Korean Wave" of contemporary Korean culture, has been South Korea's main tourism draw for years thanks to the global spread of Korean music, film, and television. Since 2012, when K-pop hit "Gangnam Style" catapulted South Korea into the global spotlight, the country has received more than 10 million international visitors each year. As the capital city, Seoul receives a large portion of these tourists and also hosts the most hallyu attractions. For instance, SMTOWN at Coex Artium is styled as a theme park where fans can meet their idols, watch live and hologram musical performances, and purchase products modelled or designed by SM artists. Although hallyu tourism remains popular, Seoul has caught on to the world's growing interest in North By Brooke Thio Seoul taps into peace tourism and South Korea. As a series of successful peace talks promise peace and stability on the Korean peninsula, Seoul — located just 56 kilometres south of the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) — stands to become a hub for tourists to visit peace-themed historical sites and attractions. "We will establish a variety of tourism policies Getting to Bintan from Singapore has always been a relatively straightforward and comfortable affair. Seventy- five minutes by ferry is all it takes to escape the hustle and bustle of downtown Singapore, which is why the island has been a favourite among travellers looking for short getaways. More than just vacationers, however, Bintan Lagoon Resorts now wants to attract corporate customers as well, especially those looking for venues to hold team-building activities. To BY WILL CHIN BINTAN LAGOON RESORTS INTRODUCES NEW PACKAGE FOR CORPORATE PLANNERS entice corporate customers even more, the resort recently introduced a Unite and Conquer team-building package, designed to offer great value for companies. It includes everything from ferry tickets and accommodation to half-day team-building sessions and complimentary Wi-Fi access for all guests. "Due to our proximity to Singapore, Bintan Lagoon Resort is popular among corporate planners for MICE and team-building events in a setting away from the hustle bustle of the city. The Resort's enormity, vast resources and warm Indonesian hospitality are critical factors in ensuring the success of our clients' objectives and missions, " explained Gerald A Hendrick, general manager and senior vice president at Bintan Lagoon Resorts. Gerald A Hendrick, general manager and senior vice president at Bintan Lagoon Resorts. Gyeongbokgung Palace in autumn, South Korea. Tourism arrivals to the South Pacific nation of Fiji has been notching successive highs. Last year, visitor arrivals hit a record high of 842,884, up 6.4% from a previous record year in 2016, according to the Fiji Bureau of Statistics. Last year, Asian destinations contributed to more than 10% of total arrivals, with more than 88,968 coming from China, BULA! FIJI WRITES NEW TOURISM RECORDS BY NAOMI NEOH and plans to prepare for the era of inter-Korean peace tourism. We will also actively work on developing tourism content," said Jae-sung Rhee, president and CEO, Seoul Tourism Organisation in a statement. STO held a symposium on peace tourism in July, where approximately 60 participants from the travel industry, academia, and media discussed how to refresh existing security- themed products and integrate new landmarks for an era of peace. These developments will also keep Seoul's hospitality industry healthy: Seoul hit 48,600 rooms at the end of 2017 in anticipation of the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics, but more upscale international brands continue to enter Seoul. Hyatt is set to launch the Andaz brand in Gangnam district in 2019, while Fairmont Hotels will make its debut in 2020 with the Fairmont Ambassador Seoul. South Korea, Japan and the rest of Asia. Source markets Japan, Singapore, China and the rest of Asia have been posting positive year-on-year growth. In early October, the nation inked a new air services agreement to increase the number of available seats for airlines of both countries, targeting to expand capacity by 20%. Airlines from both countries were previously using just about all of the 6,500 seats through Australia's four major gateways of Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney to Fiji. National carrier Fiji Airways will be increasing direct flights from Singapore and Japan, with additional services during peak seasons during the months of April, May, July, August and December. In May, the airline commenced its codeshare partnership with Singapore Airlines (SIA) and SilkAir to extend its reach to passengers from 10 destinations in Asia and Europe through Singapore. The codeshare include flights between Nadi and three other destinations, the capital Suva, Labasa, and Savusavu. VISIT BOOTH: F05 VISIT BOOTH: P26 Fiji Reef Snorkel VISIT BOOTH: H22

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