Clubware
Clubware’s online gym software is not your run of the mill management system. It has been carefully designed to incorporate all the elements that a fitness club would need. How did we do that?…
read moreDespite July customarily being one of Seoul's busiest holiday months, the city, like much of South Korea, was largely devoid of international tourists during the early part of its peak summer season.
Following the start of the peninsula's Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) outbreak in May, with the country eventually becoming the second-most infected nation in the world after Saudi Arabia, the Korea Association of Travel Agents reported a monumental plummet in Korea travel packages - more than an 80% drop - amid international concerns of the virus.
The outbreak saw China’s administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau even issuing warnings against travel to South Korea.
The reported fiscal losses due to the slump in the number of package tour reservations is estimated to total more than 100 billion won (US$90 million) in sales.
In a desperate effort to help the tourism industry recover from the impact of the MERS crisis, many local government agencies have begun to launch new initiatives to help lure hesitant tourists, from providing MERS insurance plans to overseas tourists to offering cheaper and more flexible visa requirements.
According to the Korea Tourism Organisation, more than 135,000 overseas visitors - mostly Chinese citizens - cancelled their trips to Korea in June, resulting in a daily average drop in foreign tourists of 21%
In a statement, Korean Vice Justice Minister Kim Ju-hyun explained “we are waiving visa fees for tour groups from China until 30th September”, adding that the same benefits would apply to travelers from Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia and Cambodia.
Vice Minister Kim added “these measures will make it easier for visitors to travel to Korea, which will lower the country's concerns regarding the flagging tourism industry.
"We not only expect this to revitalise the tourism industry, but the economy as a whole."
The Cultural Heritage Administration also waived admission fees for all of Seoul's four palaces, as well as the Jongmyo Royal Shrine and Royal Tombs, during July.
The Cultural Heritage Administration wrote on the main entrance to Gyeongbukgung Palace that “as a gift to the public in light of the recent MERS issues, the palaces and royal tombs will be open to the public free of charge for the month of July.”
12th June 2015 - KOREA’S LARGEST WATERPARK UNVEILS MORE WORLD-CLASS WHITEWATER ATTRACTIONS
22nd Janaury 2015 - SOUTH KOREA TO APPROVE MORE CASINOS TO BOOST TOURISM
19th September 2014 - KOREA TOURISM ORGANISATION LAUNCHES NEW ‘IMAGINE YOUR KOREA’ BRAND
Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?
As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.
The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.
Clubware’s online gym software is not your run of the mill management system. It has been carefully designed to incorporate all the elements that a fitness club would need. How did we do that?…
read moreAs of 2018, TicketServ operates as SeatGeek Asia Pacific Pty Limited, part of international ticketing platform SeatGeek. Click here to contact SeatGeek Asia Pacific via their entry in…
read morePricemark supplies a wide range of custom branded membership & RFID access products for the Health & Leisure Industry.
read moreSwimplex Aquatics are a world-class company dedicated to the commercial pool, waterslide industry. We are Australian market leaders servicing all states Australia wide. Swimplex provide a full…
read moreAUSTRALIAN MADE. FIT FOR PURPOSE. Based on the Gold Coast, AlphaFit is a leading manufacturer and supplier of Australian gym equipment specifically for the commercial, strength and conditioning,…
read moreJonas Software operates over 110 independently managed software brands around the world, providing them with the strategic guidance and financial security required to be leaders in their respective…
read moreTicketworx (formerly House of Tickets) is Australia and New Zealand’s foremost ticket specialist servicing some 2,700 clients and producing in excess of 30 million per tickets per annum.…
read moreInterQuad (International Quadratics) With a combined legacy spanning over 150 years, International Quadratics (founded in 1976) and Pierce Pool Supplies (originally established in 1898 as A H…
read moreGet your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!