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| 1m+ foreign tourists this year, Marketing campaign for traditional markets, Unlicensed guides, unregistered agencies | |||||
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| Writer : | G. Nikitas Brountas | Date : | 2012-08-16 | Hit : | 393 |
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1m+ foreign tourists this year The number of foreign tourists to the island this year surpassed one million on Wednesday. The provincial tourist information center says more than 997,000 had landed in Jeju as of Tuesday, and then 8,000-plus foreign visitors arrived via the airport or sea ports for Liberation Day. The one-million milestone was reached about four months earlier than last year when the corresponding date was December 16th. Provincial officials say that if the current trend continues, the government's goal of hosting one-point-five million foreign tourists this year will be met earlier than initial projections. They credit the increase on better accessibility: there are now more international chartered flights to the island as well as cruise ships that list Jeju as a port of call.
In related news, local representatives will wage a more aggressive marketing campaign to encourage the increasing number of foreign tourists arriving on cruise ships to visit traditional markets on the island. The government and the Merchants Association for the Revitalization of Jeju City Districts drew up the plans after taking into consideration the four-to-seven-hour stays that passengers on large ships have in Jeju. They have decided to increase advertisements on the vessels, establish a free shuttle bus service to the markets, and offer performances based on traditional island culture. They will also establish temporary markets near the ports where the ships dock and work with cruise companies and travel agencies to develop tour packages that include stops at the markets.
In somewhat related news, analysts say that there are still unlicensed tour guides and unregistered travel agencies in Jeju, and that they are hurting the reputation of the island's tourism industry. The Jeju Provincial Tourism Association says it has uncovered six unlicensed guides and two unregistered agencies in the first half of the year. They were reportedly actively seeking clients at Jeju International Airport and tourist destinations. The association says those guides are not paid, but solicit clients and try and force them to buy products at certain places. Meanwhile, the group says the problem with the unregistered travel agencies is that they offer low-quality packages that lead visitors to complain about their trips to the island.
[Former sexual slaves demand apology] Weak and fragile, Kim took labored steps to the site, despite the pouring rain in Seoul. [Interview] Kim Bok-dong / Victim A presidential hopeful from the main opposition Democratic United Party, Moon Jae-in, made a surprise visit to the protest site... and promised to be a leader committed to resolving the issue. [Interview] Moon Jae-in / Presidential candidate, Democratic United Party Wednesday's rally.. held on the 67th anniversary of Korea's independence from Japanese colonial rule... was exceptionally large... with people from home and abroad coming together in solidarity. Representative Yoon Mi-hyang of the civic group for Korean women forced into sexual slavery under Japanese rule... urged international civic groups to join in the fight... for the true emancipation for all female victims of war. [Interview] Yoon Mi-hyang / Member of victims' council [Camera] Yi Ki-wook [Interview] Kim Ga-bin, Park Su-min / Goyang Baekyang High School [Arirang Reporter] Kim Yeon-ji Everyone made wishes for the true liberation for these victims, and made a pledge to never forget the sad history. Kim Yeon-ji, Arirang News.
While department stores and large discount stores are posting negative growth in sales, duty free shops are performing exceptionally well. Lotte Duty Free Shop's main store sold 30 percent more in the first half of this year compared to the same period last year, while sales at Shilla Duty Free Shop jumped 130 percent. The biggest reason for the boost in sales: a boost in Chinese tourists. Almost 30 percent of sales at the main store of Lotte Duty Free this year were made by Chinese tourists. And in Shilla Duty Free, sales by Chinese customers account for more than half of overall sales. Chinese tourists are also at the top when it comes to per capita spending, at 1-point-1 million won, or roughly 970 U.S. dollars, more than double the amount by Japanese shoppers. [Interview] Ham Seok-min / Manager, Lotte Duty Free Shop (Stand-up) Heo Seung-ha [Interview] Zhao Qin / Tourist from Hangzhou To cope with the surge in Chinese tourists, interpreters are now dispatched on every floor, and an information desk was recently set up to specifically cater to the needs of Chinese customers. [Interview] Kim Dong-hoon / PR & Communication, Lotte Duty Free Shop [Camera] Yi Kyeong-ho Heo Seung-ha, Arirang News.
Over a boundless expanse of water a red flare signals a distress call, a coast guard helicopter scrambles to the scene. Rescue workers descend on cables and quickly rescue victims. The fire on board the vessel is put out with water canons. This is the scene of a joint training exercise conducted by the marine police agencies of six North Pacific countries. Distress scenarios were developed for the exercise and the six agencies shared their search and rescue know-how. Marine police agency officials from the United States, Canada, Russia, China, Japan and Korea participated. It was the first joint training exercise held in Korea by the six. [ Interview : Song Na-taek ] Participating countries' have high expectations for the training exercise. [ Interview : Gregory ] This type of training helps improve cooperation among participants such as that between the Korea Coast Guard and the US Coast Guard. Thanks to the exercise and the hard work of participants the North Pacific's search and rescue capabilities are strengthened. Jack Quin KCTV.
The provincial government has dispatched 172 guides who are trained in the ecology and culture of Jeju to 11 locations related to an eco festival that started Thursday. They are charged with explaining local ecology and culture, as well as promoting the island in general, while they work at the festival venues and on tours for participants in the upcoming World Conservation Congress. More than 30 of them are trained to offer their explanations in English, so officials say they will lead the way in passing on precise and correct information about the island to environmental leaders from around the world.
The Jeju Special Law shifted some authority and the responsibility of carrying out some work from the national to the provincial government, but it has come at a relatively steep financial cost. Provincial representatives say Seoul transferred the control of more than 2,100 tasks to the province through four rounds of legal revisions. Just 425 of them cost the island 14 billion won annually. Labor costs account for 7.2 billion won, while there's 3.9 billion won in overhead costs and 2.9 billion won in payments for various projects. The province has also spent another 12.5 billion won on the relocation of seven special administrative agencies to the island, including the Jeju Regional Construction and Management Administration. The national government had said that in return for Jeju assuming these financial responsibilities, it could offer value added tax refunds to inbound tourists. Seoul has yet to take follow-up measures to revise the specific law needed to make that happen, though, with the result being that Jeju is simply saddled with more financial burdens with nothing in return.
Next Monday, authorities will launch their second survey of this year's crop of outdoor-grown mandarins. More than 330 researchers from Jeju Agricultural Research and Extension Services will be fanning out to record data from over 450 local groves. They are trying to determine the harvest size and the quality of the fruit this year. Results will be released early next month. Based on those results, the agency will also release guidelines for growers. Those suggestions on mandarin care will include ideas on how they should thin out their crop and maintain high fruit quality.
▶ The 10th annual Soesokkak Festival will be held at the coastal area this weekend. Title - Soesokkak Festival Details - Beach activities Date - August 18 - 19 Location - Soesokkak, Seogwipo
Title - 'Sannamhoe' Details - 10 artists Date - Through August 17 Location - Lee Jungseop Changjak Studio
▶ The (김영갑) Kim Yeong-gab Gallery (두모악) Doomoahk is hosting a special exhibition through the end of the year in commemoration of its tenth anniversary. Title - Exhibit: 'Winds' Details - 10-year anniversary Date - Through December 31 Location - Kim Yeong-gab Gallery
▶ Beophwa Temple is hosting a lotus flower festival on Sunday. Title - Lotus Flower Festival Details - Assorted activities Date - August 19 Location - Beophwa Temple, Seogwipo
[INFORMATION] ▶ The Jeju Weekly is accepting applications for students hoping to join its program as 'junior journalists' through August 17th.
Details - MS student only Application - www.jejuweekly.com Inquiry - 702-8885 |
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| Links | http://www.kctvjeju.com/a/201208/120816n5.asx | ||||
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