The Inchon airport is empty due to the outbreak of MERS. (Image : Yonhap)
SEOUL, Aug. 21 (Korea Bizwire) – Officials from 35 big travel agencies in the U.S. will set off on a ‘Korea Fam Tour’, to investigate the current status of tourism in Korea.
The Korea Fam Tour is a joint venture of the LA branch of Korea Tourist Service, the American Branch of Asiana Airlines and the American Branch of Hanatour.
Kim Tae-sik, head of the LA branch of Korea Tourist Service, explains the purpose of the project. “We would like to revitalize tourism, which has diminished since the outbreak of MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome). Also, we would like to let local travel agencies see how attractive Korea is.”
Large scale travel agencies based in New York, LA, San Francisco, Seattle and Denver will participate in the Korea Fam Tour. Litz Tour, Goway, C&H Int’l and Escapes Unlimited will be present, to name a few.
The participation of Globus, a Denver-based travel agency, is drawing attention, as they are planning to launch a Korea tour package through the Fam Tour. The company doesn’t currently offer any tour packages for traveling to Korea.
The participants will visit main tourist spots such as Seoul, Busan and Gyeongju, as well as Pyeongchang, where the 2018 winter Olympics will be hosted, and Seoraksan Mountain.
Lee Young-moon, head of Hanatour America, is also anticipating positive effects of the Fam Tour.
“The Fam Tour is the largest in scale. We hope it can be a start to lure many tourists from America.”
By M.H.Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
