Year 2008, Stellar Year for Busan Tourism Industry

Showcases diverse international festivals to attract tourists

The year 2008 was a stellar year for the Busan tourism industry, which achieved remarkable achievements in attracting tourists. Such a variety of international festivals as the Korea Fair of Festivals, the 13th Pusan Film International Festival and the Busan Fireworks Festival at Gwangan Bridge featured exotic and dynamic things to see, fascinating tourists from Korea and abroad.
The Busan Metropolitan Government topped the list of local governments as Busan saw its tourists surging by the largest number in 2008 thanks to brisk activities by overseas branch offices of the government's Culture & Tourism Bureau, including the Osaka branch, said Oh Tae-ken, team director of the Tourism Promotion Division at the Busan Metropolitan Government.
Busan will hold such events to say good-bye to the year 2008 and usher in the New Year as the sunset event at the Dadaepo Beach scheduled for 4 p.m. on Dec. 31, the bell-tolling ceremony scheduled for 11 p.m. on Dec. 31 at Mt. Yongdusan Park and the sunrise festival, to be held at 6:30 a.m. Jan. 1, 2009. These events are designed to provide Busan citizens and tourists from Korea and abroad with opportunities to wish hope and visions amid a slumping economy of Korea and the world and enjoy Busan's own unique tourist attractions as a maritime center, he said. nw

(from top) shows Actor Chang Dong-kun at the Pusan International Film Festival and a firework at the end of he event. Photos below are scenes from the 4th Busan Firework Show held in October.