Korea, China, Japan
Jointly Tap Tourism Industry
The 3rd tripartite tourism ministerial meeting agrees on the 'Busan Declaration'
Korea, China and Japan have agreed to jointly develop and publicize tourist products linking cultural and tourist sites, maritime and ecological tourist spots of the three countries.
Korean Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yu In-chon, Chinese CNTA Minister Shaoquiwei and Japanese MLIT Minister Tetsuzo Fuyushiba held the third tourism ministerial meeting at the Nurimaru House in Haeundae, Busan, on June 23 and adopted the so-called Busan Declaration. They agreed to form and operate the Korea-China-Japan tourism exchange steering committee in order to work out the details of the issues the three ministers discussed at the meeting.
Kim Chull-min, director of International Tourism Divisiton at the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said, "The 14-point declaration calls for removing all barriers that stand in the way of the expansion of tourism exchanges among the three countries and the promotion of tourists"convenience."In particular,
the three countries agreed to cooperate closely by frequently exchanging information on the transportation of tourists, provision of convenience, tourism-related crisis management and responses.
Specifically, the three countries agreed to expand cruise-related tourism products involving Korea, China and Japan and cooperate in tourism products linking major tourist spots of the nations in a bid to stimulate the attraction of tourists from both inside and outside of the region. They decided to conduct joint publicity activities at tourism exhibitions, to be held outside the region.
The ministers agreed to cooperate on a step-by-step basis to build up a joint settlement system in which tourists from the three countries can pay for transportation, lodging and dining services in order to facilitate tripartite tourism exchanges as well as an emergency communication system designed to cope with crises of foreign tourists.
They agreed to collaborate on the sustainable development of tourist resources
so that it does neither harm to the life of residents nor endangers the environment and ecosystem. The three shared the need to jointly cope with climate change that may have an impact on the tourism industry in the long-term perspective and to cooperate with each other.
In addition, the three reconfirmed the fact that the tourism industry contributes to the promotion of mutual cooperation through exchanges among nations, co-prosperity of national and regional economies as a growth engine industry of the future, global peace and stability as well as the creation of sustainable social, economic and environmental development. They decided to explore ways of collaborating in building up a tripartite government-civilian partnership for the development of the tourism sector while stepping up their competitive edge in the tourism sector outside of the region.
The tourism ministers'meeting took place June 22-25 in Busan and Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, to upgrade tourism exchanges among the three countries.
It was the third such meeting among the three countries based on the agreement reached in 2003 to expand tourism and strengthen cooperation among them. The first meeting was held in June 2006 in Japan and the second meeting was in China in June 2007.
Korean Minister Yoo delivered his opening message during an opening ceremony and welcoming reception at BEXCO, the convention center in Busan, on June 22 at 6 p.m., followed by his Japanese and Chinese counterparts. The opening ceremony was followed by an official dinner, performance and fireworks with some 500 people from the tourism sector in attendance.
The three tourism ministers officially held their meeting on June 23 at Nurimaru on Dongbaek Island off Busan Harbor where the 2005 APEC summit meeting was held. At the end of the talks, the Busan Declaration was unveiled, followed by a press conference with the three ministers.
The three ministers and their entourages toured noted tourist spots around Busan including Dongbaek Park, Beomeo Buddhist Temple and
the Naktong River Eco Center before proceeding to a farewell party hosted by Busan Mayor Hur Nam-sik.
On June 24, the meeting moved to Cheongju for the final round of the gathering, followed by an official dinner and a closing ceremony and performance.
The schedule in Cheongju started with an official governor's luncheon at the Ramada Plaza Hotel in downtown Cheongju followed by a tour of famous spots around the city. The ministers held a press meeting and an official closing ceremony at Cheong Nam Dae, the Presidential retreat. nw
(left photo) Korean Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yu In-chon speaks at the 3rd tripartite tourism ministerial meeting. MCST Minister Yu, Chinese CNTA Minister Shaoquiwei and Japanese MLIT Minister Testsuzo Fuyushiba hold up the Busan Declaration after wrapping up the tourism ministerial meeting in Busan on June 23, as Busan Mayor Hur Nam-sik also looks on.
(left photo) MCST Minister Yu is in talks with Japanese MLIT Minister Testsuzo Fuyushiba. He also discussed matters of mutual concern with Chinese CNTA Minister Shaoquiwei.
Representatives of the tripartite tourism ministerial meeting get together for a group photo.
South Korean, Japanese and Chinese tourism ministers pose together with Busan Mayor Hur Nam-sik at the ministerial meeting held in Busan. |