Northstar

www.travelweekly-asia.com 17 OCTOBER 2019 D AY 2 TRAVEL WEEKLY ASIA I T B A S I A S H O W D A I L I E S 8 South Korea works with travel agents, airlines to draw tourists to other regions of the country Keeping up the 'daebak' wow factor ALL PHOTOS TO CREDIT: KOREA TOURISM ORGANIZATION By Brooke Thio S outh Korea has seen steady growth in tourists since 2018, thanks to attractive visa policies and initiatives to diversify its tourism offerings with themed travel. With 16.3% growth so far in 2019, it stands a good chance of meeting its 2019 target of 18 million foreign visitors – a number shared by Korea Tourism Organisation (KTO) president Ahn Young-bae earlier this year. The majority of tourists come from Asia: arrivals from China grew by 29% in the first half of 2019, making up a third of total arrivals to South Korea. Japan was the second-largest source market at 19.6%, while South and South-east Asia accounted for 16.9%. However, Seoul receives approximately 78% of tourists, many of whom spend the majority of their time in the capital city. To Tourism Complex in Gijang, is scheduled to open in 2021. These set the foundation for upcoming attractions such as the Busan International Art Center, Busan Opera House, and Busan Lotte Town, which are set to open from 2021 through 2022. Wellness tourism is another niche market for the country: in April, South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced that the cities of Chungju and Jecheon in Chungcheongbuk- do Province would be Gamcheon Cultural Village is one of Busan's most popular tourist spots 15.3 15.3 million international visitors to South Korea in 2018, a 15.1% growth from 2017 41% 41% growth in tourists from Vietnam, the source market with the most growth 72 72 hotels in the pipeline for Seoul, which remains the top tourist destination in South Korea HOT NUMBERS WHAT'S NEW A healing holiday Godowon Healing Center and Gaemyeongsan Natural Forest in Chungju is one of two wellness tourism areas in North Chungcheong Province where visitors can experience activities such as guided forest walks, meditation classes, and hot spring baths are available as day or overnight programmes. Coastal allure Tongyeong offers plenty for the adventurous traveller. In addition to island- keep tourism thriving in the long run, South Korea wants to channel tourists to other, less-visited tourist destinations. Developments beyond Seoul Busan, the country's second most-populous city, is being nudged towards the limelight. In June, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed to strengthen air connectivity between Singapore and Busan with the launch of new flights by Eastar Jet and Jeju Air. Singapore Airlines also announced that starting October 28, it would take over SilkAir's four flights per week to Busan, increasing seat capacity by 76%. The city has also welcomed more international hotel chains in the past year, including the 225-room Fairfield by Marriott Busan and 289-room AVANI Central Busan. The AVANI Busan, located at the East Busan Agent's Take "Most of our business (from Indonesia) to South Korea is from incentive travel; groups still prefer to spend most if not all of their time in Seoul due to the abundance of attractions and MICE incentives. Many are not aware of what is available in other regions, but that might change with more marketing." - Anderson Yanwintarko, operation manager, Suntour Travel designated as "wellness tourism" areas. Both cities have public facilities offering programmes on traditional Korean medicine, meditation, and immersion in natural surroundings. Finally, Gangwon Province, known for its ski resorts and national parks, is now an easier sell for travel agents and tourists thanks to the establishment of the KTX Gangneung high-speed rail line and other infrastructural developments for the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics . South Korea has seen approximately 15% growth in foreign visitors for the past two years, and promoting tourism in other regions of the country could be key to sustaining tourism growth. hopping, scuba diving, and family-friendly activities like a cable car and Skyline Luge, tourists can enjoy stunning ocean views from the many parks and cafes around the city. Scenic ride KORAIL's O-Train covers a circular route from Seoul to cities in Gangwon, North Chungcheong, and North Gyeongsang province – while passing mountains, rivers, and valleys. Each seat features an in-seat power outlet and passengers can board and alight at any stop along the route.

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