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Tours seek to draw foreigners to provinces

By Lee Hyo-sik

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The majority of foreign visitors eat, shop and stay only in and around Seoul, getting the impression that the sprawling metropolis is Korea's sole tourism spot. However, to find real Korea and many more attractive destinations, they need to try visits outside the capital city, tour experts say.

To make it easier for inbound tourists to travel in provincial areas, a state-funded tourism promoter overseas has developed more than a dozen quality tour programs.

The Visit Korea Committee (VKC) said Monday that it has finalized a list of tours, which normally take 3 to 4 days, in cooperation with municipal administrations, adding it will soon be a lot easier for foreign visitors to see and experience what every corner of the country offers.

"Many inbound travelers stay only in Seoul and return home. This is unfortunate because there are many other places they ought to see. So, we have created 15 tours covering all municipalities, particularly for those traveling individually", said Han Kyung-ah, executive director of the VKC.

Han said the committee will complete uploading all the information concerning the tour programs in English, Chinese and Japanese at its website (www.visitkoreayear.com) by Oct. 15.

"Those interested in purchasing tour packages can contact travel agencies listed on our site. We think it will help the nation attract more foreign independent travelers, who account for more than 73 percent of all the inbound non-Korean visitors", she said.

The tours centering on provincial areas will also help ease pressure on Seoul's tourism infrastructure, Han said.

"Prices have not yet been determined. Although we think prices will not be markedly cheaper than conventional tour packages, travelers will receive high-class services and take part in a range of unique leisure programs", the executive director said.

She said the committee will launch a campaign to encourage restaurants to upgrade customer services for foreign tourists and improve sanitary conditions.

"We will actively get municipal governments involved in the campaign to make it last for a long time. We will also gear up for the "Korea Grand Sale 2012", which will be the nation's largest shopping bonanza for foreigners", she said.

The festival will begin on Jan. 9 and last through Feb. 29. The committee plans to encourage more hotels, department stores and other tourism-related businesses to participate in the festival, as well as expand a range of shopping incentives and price discounts so foreign shoppers will spend more.

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