KOREA - North Korean Leader Kim Jong-il Boosts Mount Baekdu Inter-Korean Tourism Project

(eTN) 10-12-2007

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has given warm encouragement to local workers developing Mount Baekdu, the highest point on the peninsula that will be opened to South Korean tourists next year, the North's broadcaster said Saturday.
South and North Korea agreed to open a direct flight route between Seoul and the North's Mount Baekdu during their second summit in October. The inter-Korean tour, set to start in May, is organized by South Korea's Hyundai Group.
Kim "expressed his gratitude to officials and workers who have wholeheartedly supported the development of the Mount Baekdu area," the Korean Central Broadcasting Station, monitored in Seoul, said, naming technicians, researchers and factory workers involved in the project.

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KOREA - Universal Studios, Partners to Build Park in Incheon

Bloomberg.com, Nov. 27 2007

Universal Studios, owned by General Electric Co., and partners will build a $3.1 billion theme park in South Korea, its third resort in Asia, the nation's Gyeonggi provincial government said.
The resort, to be built in partnership with Posco Engineering & Construction Co., will be located near Hwaseong, south of Seoul, and open in 2012, the provincial government said in a statement today.
The development will join Universal parks in the Japanese city of Osaka and a planned resort in Singapore. Entertainment and gambling companies, including Walt Disney Co. and Las Vegas Sands Corp., have expanded in Asia to take advantage of rising disposable incomes.

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AVIATION - Tiger Aviation to establish New Low Cost Airline in Korea

Asiatraveltips.com, 6 November 2007

On Monday, Tiger Aviation CEO, Tony Davis and Incheon City Mayor Ahn Sang-Soo, signed a letter of co-operation to establish a new Korean low fare airline called Incheon Tiger Airways.
Tiger Aviation and Incheon Metropolitan City will now commence work on the required approvals from the central government necessary to secure the appropriate traffic rights. Incheon City and Tiger Aviation will establish a joint venture company to form the new airline.

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MARKETS - More Asian Women aged 18 to 35 Travelling Abroad

Asiatraveltips.com, 20 September 2007

Contiki Holidays, a leader in vacations for 18-35 year-olds, has found that more women than men are travelling around the world according to the number of tour bookings made in the first six months of this year.
Seven out of every ten tour bookings at the company were made by a female traveller, an increase of 10% when compared to the same period last year.
Travellers from Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Singapore made up the female majority, and of that number, close to 60% travelled as individuals.
Japanese and Korean women proved to be the most independent travellers of the four, embarking on various tours to Australia, Europe, New Zealand and North America.

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REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - Asian giants team up to lure visitors

THE ASAHI SHIMBUN, 06/26/2007

Japan plans to join forces with the Chinese and South Korean governments to attract more tourists from the United States and Europe, sources said Monday.
Tetsuzo Fuyushiba, minister of land, infrastructure and transport who is also in charge of promoting tourism, will meet his counterparts from Beijing and Seoul on Tuesday in Qingdao, China.
Under the expected agreement, the three governments will encourage Western travel agencies to organize tours to all three nations, taking advantage of international events, such as the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.

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KOREA - pushes for more Thai tourists

Phuketgazette.net, June 16, 2007

The Bangkok office of the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), Korean Air and Sun Moon Tours & Travel joined forces to promote Thai tourism to Korea with an industry event at The Metropole Hotel on Thursday.Kang Sung-Ghil, Director of the KTO’s Bangkok Office said, “Phuket is one of our main markets for MICE [meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions], especially incentives. Therefore, from now on, we must come here more often to give updated information about Korea.“The event provided useful information about major international trade fairs and tourism attractions in Korea to help in planning incentive tours or educational trips to Korea, as well as pleasure tours.

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MARIANA ISLANDS - gets aggressive with Korean market

eTN, 1-11-2006

Mariana Visitors Authority (MVA) on Tuesday confirmed its various marketing tie-up promotions, PR activities, and campaigns showcasing the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to Korean travelers have produced positive results. MVA said it recorded a 24 percent increase in arrivals attributed to its aggressive marketing efforts.

MVA executives headed by managing director Perry John P. Tenorio and marketing manager Wayne Pangelinan, along with YT Park, MVA Korea representative, were in Seoul, Korea for yet more promotional activity to expand the islands awareness to travel agents, according to MVA. “MVA made courtesy visits and conducted a Marianas Workshop speaking directly to travel agents providing updates about the destination and the products available,” a release from MVA stated.

A visit to Asiana Airlines was also part of the trio’s itinerary while in Korea, as well as courtesy visits to major travel agencies. Representatives from Hana Tour, Mode Tour and Tourmall met with MVA to discuss other opportunities to market the islands more attractively for Korean consumers, according to the MVA release. “The travel agents visited by MVA have representative offices in Saipan that cater to their guest and provide the highest quality of service for the islands of Saipan, Tinian and Rota,” it stated.

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