PH woos millionth South Korean visitor

The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Wednesday announced that it was wooing the Philippines’ one millionth visitor from South Korea with “exciting” tour packages that include round-trip business class air tickets, prime accommodations and tours in the best beach destinations in the country.

Last month, the tourism agency launched a six-day sales mission to Seoul and Busan in anticipation of the much-awaited visitor escaping the bitter winter cold in South Korea for the country’s tropical climate during the Christmas season.

Tourism Attaché to Korea Maricon Ebron led the Philippine contingent composed of representatives from Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, Zest Air and and delegates from 29 hotel and resort properties.

“The sales mission was part of our promotional efforts to ensure stronger visibility in our top source market,” said Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. in a statement yesterday.

South Korea remains as the country’s largest source market with 832,437 arrivals or 23.93 percent out of the 3.48 million total visitors from January to October this year. The figure represented a 9.99-percent increase in the last 10 months from the numbers culled over the same period last year.

“Given that November and December are generally peak months, we are positive and confident that this year’s performance will exceed the market’s record of 925,204 [South Korean] tourists in 2011,” added Jimenez.

At the sales mission, the Philippine delegation presented to the top outbound Korean travel companies the latest developments in the country’s tourism sector, particularly investment opportunities; new offers pitched by hotels and resorts, convention sites and tourism complexes; and improvements in the country’s airport facilities.