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According to the Immigration and Foreign Policy Headquarters of the South Korean Ministry of Justice, 289,590 foreigners visited South Korea last month, up 73.9% from the previous month (166,568). The Korea Economic Daily reported, "This figure does not include group tourists and foreigners who entered the country from (the southern resort area of Cheju). The analysis of the tourism industry is that there are far more than this."
Meanwhile, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization, 498,600 foreign tourists visited Japan last month, up 2.4% from the previous month (206,500).
From the 11th of last month, the Japanese government resumed exemption of short-term visas and acceptance of foreigners' individual travel. The Japanese government had temporarily suspended visa exemption measures for South Koreans from March 9th, 2020, but it has become possible to enter Japan again without a visa for the first time in about two years and seven months. In addition to abolishing the limit on the number of people entering Japan, which had been set at 50,000 per day, in principle, it is no longer necessary for people entering Japan to be tested for COVID-19 upon arrival and to wait at the time of entry.
On the first day of the lifting of the ban on visa-free travel to Japan, the Korean media reported the voices of Korean travelers heading to Japan. A self-employed person in his 30s who was waiting to board a plane from Gimpo Airport to Haneda Airport told the Herald Economics, "I've been waiting for this day because I wanted to go on an individual trip instead of a package trip." He was pleased with the lifting of the ban on accepting personal travel. Another person in his 30s said, "I used to visit Japan about five times a year, including traveling to rural areas of Japan, but it was a pity that I couldn't go because of the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Geographically close, fun-looking streets and delicious food are the charms of Japan."
The Korea Economic Daily commented on the situation in both countries last month, saying, "Over the past month, the 'results' of attracting tourists from both countries have been so good that it is difficult to judge whether they are superior or inferior. The fact that favorable conditions were put in place had a positive impact on both countries," they said, adding, "Both Japan and South Korea are making every effort to develop specialized tourism products so that the other country does not get ahead of them. It looks like there will be fierce competition."
The newspaper said, "The cards that both countries have used to attract foreign tourists are 'luxury products. According to the newspaper, 46 tourists from the United States visited South Korea on a private plane on the 1st of this month. They come from various nationalities, such as former high-ranking bureaucrats and company executives. It is a travel product that visits a total of seven countries, including South Korea, Vietnam, and Turkey, and the price is about 22 million yen. 'Wealthier tourists spend more than four times more than ordinary tourists,'" Yoo Jun-ho, director of tourism products at the Korea Tourism Organization, told the newspaper.
In addition, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism set up the Korea Tourism Promotion Center in the center of Doha, the capital of Qatar, at a special venue operated by the Organizing Committee of the World Cup. According to Yonhap News, the publicity center has prepared a traditional cultural program, including a skin diagnosis using artificial intelligence (AI), a medical and wellness program where you can try Korean-style makeup virtually, and a calligraphy of Hangeul (Western calligraphy). You can also experience K-POP dance games.
In addition, an outdoor advertisement in a shopping mall in the center of Doha is playing a promotional video for tourism in Korea produced by the Korea Tourism Organization, featuring SUGA and JIMIN of the popular Korean group BTS, which boasts worldwide popularity. An official from the public corporation told Yonhap, "We will use the World Cup as an opportunity to actively promote the appeal of tourism in South Korea to World Cup spectators around the world, including those in the Middle East, and strive to diversify the number of tourists visiting South Korea." said.
The Japan National Tourism Organization is also focusing on the development of adventure experience-type travel products with high per-customer spending and added value. With the winter season approaching, the plan is to actively attract tourists who want to enjoy leisure activities such as skiing.
The competition for attracting foreign tourists between the two countries is likely to become even more heated in the future.
2022/11/29 12:57 KST
