2007 ASTA IDE to Expand
Jeju's Inbound Market

Jeju, the first Korean local government to host both ASTA IDE and PATA

        
The upcoming ASTA IDE will serve as the momentum to establish Jeju as one of Korea's full-fledged representative tourism destinations, Kim Tae-hwan, governor of Jeju Special Self-governing Province, said.
"The upcoming 2007 ASTA IDE is expected to not only diversify Jeju's inbound tourism markets, now centering on the Japanese and Chinese markets, to the American market but also enhance Jeju's brand market there,"Gov. Kim said in an interview with NewsWorld. The following are excerpts from the interview.
Question: What's the significance of bringing the 2007 ASTA IDE to Jeju?
Answer: ASTA, short for the American Society of Travel Agents, is one of the world's largest travel organizations together with the Pacific-Asia Travel Association (PATA). Established in 1931 and headquartered in the state of Virginia, the United States, ASTA, has a membership of about 20,000 travel agents and the companies from 140 countries across the world.
   
Its mission is to conduct activities like conferences, fairs, seminars, a networking of travel agencies, education/training, survey/research, and provision of tourism news.
Recognizing the need for protecting the safety of ASTA members following the September 11th terrorist attacks in New York, ASTA congresses have been held in the United States since 2006. In accordance with a decision to hold a separate international destination exposition outside the United States, Jeju begun efforts to bring the 2007 ASTA IDE to the province, Korea and Ireland has been in a fierce bidding competition at an early stage since the 2003 ASTA Congress took place, but the 2005 ASTA board of directors meeting determined Jeju as the host city of the 2007 ASTA IDE.
Jeju will be the first local autonomous government to host both the ASTA IDE and the PATA Annual Conference, thus serving as a good opportunity to solidify its position as one of the world's top-notch international tourism and convention destinations.
The upcoming 2007 ASTA IDE is expected to not only diversify Jeju's inbound tourism markets, now centering on the Japanese and Chinese markets, to the American market but also enhance Jeju's brand market there.
The 2007 ASTA IDE is more likely to contribute to invigorating the local economy. On top of the economic spill-over effects, estimated at 4.5 trillion won, the International Destination Expo Jeju 2007 will be considered as the "goose that lays the golden egg"in the tourism convention industry, given Jeju'enhanced profile, arising from diverse publicity activities and the creation of potential demand, caused by the development of tourist products related to Jeju.
Now that Jeju is set to host the International Destination Expo during 2007 after it was elevated as the special self-governing province, it is expected to boost the morale and pride of those in the tourism industry and students in tourism-related disciples.
Our hope is that ASTA IDE will serve as the momentum to establish Jeju as Korea's full-fledged representative tourism destination.
Q: Would you elaborate on the scale of the 2007 ASTA IDE and related events?
A: About 1,100 ASTA members will get together during the 2007 ASTA IDE, to be held from March 25 until March 29 at the ICC Jeju, which will offer diverse official programs, including opening/closing ceremonies, a trade show, tourism seminars (on Jeju, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Daegu, Incheon, Korea, China), a welcoming dinner by Jeju and KTO, Lyon Farewell Gala, and pre- and post-tours.
The ASTA IDE will have a trade show, designed to provide opportunities to enter the American market, form a network of global tourism leaders and promote the development and marketing of new Korean tourist products, providing Korea with an opportunity to develop the domestic tourism industry. Jeju Special Self-governing Province will open an integrated booth of local tourism exhibitors in a bid to help them secure a bridgehead in its entry to the American market.
Q: Would you introduce tour programs being offered during the 2007 ASTA IDE?
A: The 2007 ASTA IDE will provide official programs designed to show Jeju's indigenous tradition, cultural relics and wonderful natural environment to the participants of the exposition with the aim of enhancing Jeju's tourism image in Korea and publicizing Jeju as the "Island of World Peace."The tour programs will be organized in a way the participants of the exposition are given bigger chances of choice and efforts to attract foreign tourists from the American and other markets can be more effective by making their tour a memorable experience with hope of helping them make additional visits.
Thirty-nine free or paid tour programs linking Korea and other neighbor countries will be also available with the target of laying groundwork for luring delegates of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic and the 2010 Shanghai Expo.
Take a look into the official tour programs to Jeju being offered during the exposition. Two full-day tours to Jeju - "Jeju Tradition"and "Western Natural Wonder"- will be available on March 28th.
The Jeju Tradition Program will take visitors to the Jeju Folklore Village, Jeju Woman Divers Museum and Jeju Stone Park while the Western Natural will run to Mt. Sanbang, Hallim Park, Samseonghyeol and Jeju Folklore and Natural History Museum. Four half-day tours ― Korean Traditional Market Program, Softer Side Program, Learn Korean Ceramics Program and Korean Tea Ceremony Program ― will be offered on March 25 and March 28.
Pre-tour programs to Jeju
* Dates: March 23 and March 24
* Courses: 2 full-day tours and 2 half-day tours
* Full-day tours (on March 23 &24)
- Jovial Jeju City (full-day tour to town): 1100 Road-Mysterious Road-Jeju Folklore Natural History Museum-Tamna Mokseokwon-Jeju Mokwanaji (Old Office)-Seongsan Ilchulbong.
- Relish the Romantic East (full-day tour to east): Jeju Stone Culture Park-Seongsan Ilchulbong-Jeju Folk Village
* Half-day tours (on March 23 and March 24)
- Explore the Wild West: Hallim Park-Geumneung Seokmulwon-Yeongmeori Coast
- Spectacular Sea Cruse: Cheonjiyeon Waterfalls-Ferry Cruise
Pre- & post-tour linking Jeju and other parts of Korea
* Dates: March-March 24/ March 23-March 25/ March 29-March 31/March 29-April 1
* Courses: 3 pre-tours & 4 post-tours
* Pre-tours
- Tour to Brilliant Old & New (including Gyeongju/Busan): two nights and three days (March 23-March 25)
- The City of Beautiful People (Seoul City Tour): two nights and 3 days (March 23-March 25)
- Natural Beauty of Korea (tour to Jeolla Provinces): three nights and four days (March 21-March 24)
* Post-tour
- Tour to Brilliant Old & New (including Gyeongju/Busan): two nights and three days (March 29-March 31)
- The City of Beautiful People (Seoul City Tour): two nights and 3 days (March 29-March 31)
- Dazzling Diamond Mountain ( tour to Mt. Geumgang in North Korea): three nights and four days (March 29-April 1)
- Natural Beauty of Korea (tour to Jeolla Provinces): three nights and four days (March 29-April 1)
Pre- & Post-tour programs linking Jeju and overseas cities
* Dates: March 21-March 24/ March 23-March 25/March 29-March 31/ March 29-April 1
* Courses: 17 pre-tour & 20 post-tour programs
* Pre-tour programs
- Historic Flow of Beijing (including Beijing): three nights and four days (March 21-March 24)
- China Golden Tour (including Beijing, Xian, Guilin & Shanghai): eight days (March 16-23)
- Highlight Tour to the Mysterious Tibet (including Beijing, Chengdu & Lhasa): eight days ( March 17-March 24) and three nights and four days (March 21-March 24)
- Chinese Kung Fu Tour (including Beijing, Zhengzhou, Kaifeng & Luoyang): 10 days (March 16-March 25)
- Highlight Tour to the Ancient Silk Road (including Beijing, Xian and Lanzhou & Dunhuang)
- Cultural Highlights of China (including Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou & Souzhou): five nights and six days (March 19-March 24)
- In-depth China (including Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Hanghou & Suzhou): seven nights and eight days (March 17-24)
- Thailand, Happiness on Earth (including Bangkok): three nights and five days (March 21-March 24)
- Bangkok Highlight (including Bangkok): three nights and four days (March 21-March 24)
- Bangkok and Northern Thailand ( including Bangkok and northern parts of Thailand): four nights and six days (March 20-March 25)
- Delightful Excursion to Japan (including Fukuoka, Kumamoto & Beppu): three nights and four days (March 21-March 24)
- Vietnam in the World Heritage Trails (including Hanoi and Halong Bay): three nights and five days (March 20-March 24)
- Historical Visit to Phnom Penh with Classical Tour to Angkor Wat (including Phnom Penh & Angkor Wat): four nights and five days (March 19-March 23)
- The Wonder of Angkor Wat: four nights and five days (March 19-March 23)
- The Ground tour of Angkor's Heritage (including Phnom Penh, Siem Reap & Kom Pongcham: seven nights and eight days (March 16-March 23)
- The Angkor Circuit: three nights and four days (March 21-March 24)
- Thailand and Cambodia (including Bangkok, Pattaya & Angkor Wat): three nights and five days (March 21-March 25)
* Post-tour programs
- Historic Flow of Beijing: three nights and four days (March 29-April 1)

- 8-day Tour to Beijing, Xian and Shanghai: seven nights and eight days (March 30-April 5)
- China Culture Tour (including Guilin, Kunmyoung, the Old Town of Lijinag & Zhongdian): seven days (March 29-April 4), three nights and four days (March 29-April ) (including the historic city of Beijing)
- China Highlight (including Beijing and Shanghai): five nights and six days (March 29 and April 3)
- Essential Beijing: three nights and four days (March 29-April 1)
- Insight Beijing (full tour to Beijing): four nights and five days (March 29-April 2)
- Cultural Highlights of China (including Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Souzhou): five nights and six days (March 29-April 3)
- In-depth China (including Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Hangzhou & Souzhou): seven nights and eight days (March 29-April 5)
- Thailand, Happiness on Earth (including Bangkok): three nights and five days (March 29-March 2)
- Bangkok Highlight (including Bangkok): three nights and four days (March 29-April 1)
- Chiang Mai & Golden Triangle, Thailand (including Chiang Mai & Golden Triangle): five nights and six days (March 29-April 3)
- Bangkok and Northern Thailand (including Bangkok and northern parts of Thailand): four nights and six days (March 29-April 3)
- Delightful Excursion to Japan (including Fukuoka, Kumamoto & Beppu): three nights and four days (March 29-April 3)
- Vietnam in the World Heritage Trails (including Hanoi and Halong Bay): three nights and five days (March 29-April 2)
- Historical Visit to Phnom Penh with Classical Tour to Angkor Wat (including Phnom Penh & Angkor Wat): four nights and five days (March 30-April 3)
- The Wonder of Angkor Wat : four nights and five days (March 30-April 3)
- The Ground tour of Angkor's Heritage (including Phnom Penh, Siem Reap & Kom Pongcham: seven nights and eight days (March 30-April 6)
- The Angkor Circuit: three nights and four days (March 29-April 1)
- Thailand and Cambodia (including Bangkok, Pattaya & Angkor Wat): three nights and five days (March 29-April 2)
Q: What efforts are you making to publicize Jeju as the "Island of World Peace"and improve its image?
A: The Korean government officially designated Jeju the Island of World Peace. We have been implementing the Island of World Peace Projects designed to link all people around the globe through the brand "peace."In this regard, the Jeju International Peace Center has been established and such related projects as the projected April 3 Peace Park in honor of the April 3 Massacre, Mosulpo War Memorial Site and Jeju Peace Forum have been carried out.
On July 1 last year, Jeju was reborn as Jeju Special Self-governing Province, which is granted autonomy in all areas except defense, diplomatic and judiciary fields. Based on the legal constitutional system as the special self-governing province, the construction of Jeju International Free City will pick up speed. Foreign investments have been made in a full-fledged manner as Jeju has succeeded in attracting foreign capital to build ICC Jeju's anchor hotel. Metropolitan city projects and English town project are taking shape. The Jeju provincial government is putting more energy into implementing the second stage ameliorating steps, including Jeju's proposed Big Three Steps: Lowering corporate tax, making all Jeju area tax-free and adopting an open-skies policy.
Jeju became the first local autonomous government to be designated as an international conventional city by the central government, thus laying the groundwork for elevating Jeju into Korea's top-notch international convention city. Jeju's competitive edge in attracting international conventions is likely to be enhanced in the wake of the construction of ICC Jeju's anchor hotel and implementation of an incentive system. In particular, in 2002, Jeju became the Unesco-designated Biosphere Reserve. Jeju has submitted an application for listing Seongsan Illchulbong, Mt. Halla National Park and lava caves into the World Heritage. Samdasu, a brand of mineral water drawn from underground rock strata, has the biggest share in the domestic market, while Jeju is striving to publicize the undersea environment, unmatched resources for diving and other activities, to American and European tourists.
Jeju's traditions and culture are considered to draw their attention as fresh ones. Such life styles ad diving women, thatched cottages and folk cuisine as well as Tae Wang Sa Shin Ki, the soon-to-be-aired TV drama being filmed in Jeju, and other themes of Hallyu, or Korean Wave have become the popular coverage subject of American and European media organizations. The provincial government is working to promote Jeju as the venues of discussing peace in Northeast Asia and prosperity as the island has hosted global summit talks and staged a campaign to donate tangerine to North Korea. Finally, the Jeju Special Self-governing Province is making seamless preparations to make the upcoming 2007 ASTA IDE a success. I'm confident that all of you coming to Jeju will have fresh experiences you have never heard and imaged. Our citizens are waiting your arrival with a warm and opened heart, and I extend my whole-hearted welcome to your visit. nw

Daepo Jusangjeolli, a pillar-shaped joint

Kim Tae-hwan, governor of Jeju Special Self-governing Province

A fantastic view from a rape flower field in Jeju

Mt. Halla, ablaze with royal azalea blooms in spring.

(Clockwise) The Lake Baeknok (White Deer); Logo of the 2007 ASTA IDE; and International Convention Center Jeju (ICC Jeju), a world-renowned convention destination.

Mt. Halla with red, yellow foliage in fall

Geumneung Seogmulwon

Tangerine

Diving women

Hamel's wrecked ship