Director Song Yu Headed a Delegation to Seoul

Headed by Song Yu, the director of Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism, a delegation of thirteen people that came from the CITS head office, CTS head office, China CYTS Tours Holding Co ., Ltd, Haitao Travel visited Korea to investigate the Korea tourism of Chinese citizens in July 28-31, 2015. This visit was aimed to help Korea to recover the Korea tourism market, which was seriously affected by the MERS epidemic. With warm reception of mayor of Seoul, Park Won-soon, this visit was achieved complete success.

Since June, the Korea tourism of Chinese citizens was seriously affected by the MERS epidemic. According to Korean statistics, the Korea inbound tourism of Chinese tourists was dropped by 45 percent. Tourism market, including Seoul was badly battered. In this case, Park Won-soon was planned to visit Beijing in August, and wrote a letter to mayor Wang Anshun to appeal for support.

With instructions of Beijing city leaders and help of Beijing Municipal Foreign Affairs Office, Director Song Yu was quickly formed a group and visit to Seoul about the Korea inbound tourism investigation and communication, with the purpose of helping Korea to recover inbound tourism market.

After leaving the Incheon Airport, the delegation was hurried to the Seoul Tourism＆Sports Bureau．Through communicating with the Director General, Kim Yi Cheong and Seoul tourism sector, the delegation was proposed pertinent suggestions about recovering the vitality of Seoul tourism market after the MERS epidemic. After the meeting, director Song Yu accepted the interview of The Chosun Ilbo.

In July 29th, with the host of Korean Tourism Industry Association, the delegation was communicated with Korean Tourism representatives after visiting Seoul Tourism Information Center and Seoul International Cultural Experience Center. Tourism representatives from both sides was made suggestioms about how to promote development of Sino-Korea and Beijing-Seoul tourism market. In the afternoon, the press conference held by the Seoul municipal government spokesman office was convened, in which director Song Yu and Beijing tourism enterprise representatives was invited to attend and received joint interview of Korean mainstream media journalists of KBS, MBS, Seoul Economic Daily, Aisa Today and Financial News.

Mayor of Seoul, Park Won-soon was meet and have a lunch with the Beijing delegation in July 30th. Park Won-soon expressed gratitude to the help of Beijing delegation when Seoul met with difficulties. All participants was discussed about how to improve attraction of Korean tourism products further and regain the confidence of Chinese tourists. The delegation came to Korea when the Korean government declared the epidemic over, by which the sense of security and interest of Chinese tourist can improved and the scale of tourism in Korea would be enlarged.

Song Yu said, as sister cities of 22 years, Beijing and Seoul are always support each other, especially in the SARS epidemic in 2003, when Beijing faced difficulties in inbound tourism, Korean tourists gave us great understanding and support. This time, the visit to Seoul is undoubtedly reward and duty of Beijing. As the saying goes, “A friend in need is a friend indeed.” We hope that Beijing citizens and Chinese tourists can know about the safe and peaceful city environment of Seoul, and the Korean tourism can recover as soon as possible.

The delegation was also investigated the Seoul souvenir shops, duty-free shops and other tourism service facilities, and learn the experience of Seoul inbound tourism. Besides, the delegation was visited The Chosun Ilbo and discussed about how to promote the tourism marketing through the new media.