Korea-Japan Tourism Seminar "Demand for Travel to Korea Recovers Fastest"
Japanese Tourism Minister "Koreans Are the No.1 Foreign Tourists Visiting Japan... Grateful"
"The recovery rate of Japanese tourists traveling to Korea is much faster compared to traditionally popular destinations such as Hawaii, Taiwan, and Thailand. Following the popularity of K-pop groups like Girls' Generation and BTS, K-dramas including 'Crash Landing on You' have gained great love, and it is expected that the number of Japanese tourists visiting Korea will increase significantly."
At the "Korea-Japan Tourism Seminar" held on the 25th at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, singer Kim Jaejoong (from the left), Hiroyuki Takahashi, Chairman of the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA), Ichiro Takahashi, Director of the Japan National Tourism Organization (fourth from the left), Park Jongtaek, Director of the Tourism Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Oh Changhee, Chairman of the Korea Association of Travel Agents, and Yang Kyungsoo, Team Leader of the Korea Tourism Organization, are posing for a commemorative photo. Photo by Yonhap News
On the 25th, the Japan Tourism Agency held the 'Korea-Japan Tourism Seminar' in Seoul to introduce special travel destinations in Japan and to promote the restart of tourism between the two countries. At the event, Hiroyuki Takahashi, chairman of the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA), stated that demand for travel to Korea within Japan is recovering rapidly.
In May, Japanese overseas travel recovered to 47% of the 2019 level. Among these, the number of Japanese tourists visiting Korea increased to 65% of the 2019 figure, leading the overall recovery trend.
Chairman Takahashi emphasized the importance of Korea in the recovery of the overseas travel market in Japan. He said, "JATA and the Japan Tourism Agency are conducting the overseas travel promotion campaign 'Now is the Time for Overseas Travel.' We have selected 24 major overseas countries and are promoting campaigns in cooperation with each country's tourism departments, and Korea is the most important country among them."
The Japan Association of Travel Agents is collaborating with the Korea Tourism Organization to develop high value-added products and promote regional areas through various cooperative efforts.
Chairman Takahashi urged, "Please consider strengthening incentives and promotions to attract tourists to regional cities. As we enter a new era of tourism, Korea and Japan are the most important partners promoting bilateral exchanges."
He added, "The number of Japanese schools wanting to go on school trips to Korea is increasing. I request active cooperation from the Korean and Japanese governments and local governments to facilitate exchanges between sister schools."
The event was also attended by Park Jong-taek, Director General of Tourism Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Ichiro Takahashi, Commissioner of the Japan Tourism Agency.
Director Park said, "Demand for travel by Koreans to Japan is rapidly increasing, and the air routes connecting Korea and Japan have recovered over 90%. The news that Seoul is the number one popular overseas destination for Japanese travelers brings hope and excitement to the inbound tourism industry, which is busy welcoming tourists."
Director Park added, "We will further activate exchanges between Korea and Japan by utilizing regional airports. Taking advantage of the Year of Visit Korea, we will expand K-culture events that foreign tourists can easily enjoy."
On the 25th, Ichiro Takahashi, Minister of the Japan Tourism Agency, delivered a greeting at the 'Korea-Japan Tourism Seminar' held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Commissioner Ichiro Takahashi expressed his condolences to those affected by Korea's record-breaking heavy rains and wished for a swift recovery and reconstruction in his greeting.
He also expressed gratitude for the fact that since the easing of quarantine measures last year, "Korean travelers have always been the largest group among visitors to Japan," and explained, "We are preparing limited-time tourism content across various regions that offer unique Japanese experiences so that more Koreans can visit Japan."
The event also featured singer Kim Jaejoong, who is active in both Korea and Japan, participating in a talk show under the theme 'My Favorite Travel Destinations in Japan.'
Known as a Japan expert, Kim Jaejoong introduced his favorite places in Japan during the talk show with MC announcer Lee Ji-yeon, saying, "My favorite places in Japan, where I always want to go again, are Karuizawa and Hachinohe City."
A representative from the Japan Tourism Agency said, "Through this event, we expect to offer Korean tourists unprecedented new travel experiences and further invigorate the improvement of Korea-Japan relations."
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