Focus on Inbound Tourists

MCST to work toward boosting inbound tourist arrivals and spur domestic tourism

Minister Yu In-chon of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Ministry (MCST) said the ministry will go all-out to promote policies to lure foreign tourists to Korea.
Calling the current state of inbound tourist arrivals in the country appalling, with outbound tourists outnumbering inbound tourists by a two to one ratio, Yoo said he will steer the ministry toward policies to make Korea more attractive and enjoyable for foreign visitors so they can have a long-lasting memory after visiting the country. He said some 12 million Koreans went abroad for tourism and other purposes last year, while only 6 million foreign visitors came to Korea.
The new minister, in his speech at the 80th Breakfast Forum held at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Seoul March 12, said Korea must be more active in its public relations work on promoting Korean culture and tourism abroad to attract more foreign tourists to the country
He said the entire country was aware of the big roles internationally-known Korean athletes like figure skating champion Kim Youn-a and swimming champion Park Tae-hwan played in boosting Korea's image in the world. Likewise, writers and idealists, when their work becomes popular around the world, could do the same.
If Korea's competitive power is great, it will help Koreans competing in any field around the world because they will receive more attention, which will help in the rapid introduction of their work.
In the meantime, Yoo in his report to the President on the ministry's major policy outline for this year held in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, March 14, said the ministry will create tourism policies geared toward upgrading the quality, competitiveness and international position of Korea in such a way that it will contribute to an improvement in the quality of living conditions and sustainable national development.
Also included in the ministry's major policy goals will be building a base for a world-level tourism service and sustainable tourism resources as well as an expansion of regional tourism resources.
The ministry will also lead the way toward developing Korean tourism products and strengthen tourism marketing aimed at China and Japan in particular. The ministry will also invigorate domestic tourism with the goal of redirecting Korean travelers'potential overseas tourism expenditures back into the Korean tourism industry.
The ministry will also make efforts to relax regulations on the tourism industry and provide tax support to sharpen its competitiveness and cut administrative expenses.
The tax assessment on the travel industry will be lowered to the same level as that of the manufacturing industry to drum up private investments in the tourism industry.
No visas for Chinese tourists during the Beijing Olympics will be pushed by the ministry in coordination with the Ministries of Justice and Foreign Affairs and Trade. Details of the plan will be reported to President Lee during the meeting on strengthening the competitiveness of the tourism industry.
The ministry will also see that Korea's unique tourist products with themes of Korean traditional culture such as temple stays, academicians, samulnori, B-boy, taekwondo and others things that stand out as "Korean"will be encouraged and promoted.
Various festivals such as street festivals in regions where they were developed will be refined so they can be enjoyed by foreign tourists. Such locations as the Demilitarized Zone dividing the two Koreas, smaller cities with populations of less than 50,000, environmentally-friendly places such as Damyang and Wan Island as well as towns where many old-age people (85 years or older) live will be made into tourist attractions equipped with environmentally-friendly facilities.
Extensive tourism marketing campaigns will be carried out in China and Japan to attract more tourists from these neighboring countries. For Chinese tourists, new products such as new farm village and medical facilities tours will be developed along with Chinese foods and restaurants to cater to Chinese tourists arriving in Korea under a special tourism promotion campaign during the Beijing Olympics.
Japanese tourists will also be encouraged to visit Korea under the 2008 Korea-Japan Tourism Exchange Program being promoted especially for youths. The marketing programs will be directed at local autonomous prefectures in Japan and to attract individual tourists separate from tourist groups. nw

Minister Yu In-chon of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.