Korea Travel Expo 2015, which wrapped up a five-day run at COEX on Feb. 15, served as a catalyst for domestic tourism.
The Grand Prize of the expo went to co-winners, Incheon Metropolitan Government and Gangwon provincial government at the awards ceremony, which coincided with the closing ceremony of the exposition. Three local governments, including Ansan City Government and Jeju Special Self-Governing Provincial Government each were honored with the Top Excellence Prize. Six entities, including Yeoncheon County Office, won the Excellence Award, while three others were awarded with the Popularity Award.
Korea Travel Expo 2015 took place Feb. 12-15 at the DI Exhibition Hall of Coex in southern Seoul. Hosted by the Korea Tourism Association and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as sponsor, the goal for the expo was to invigorate domestic tourism.
With the theme of “Happy Tour of Nook and Corner,” the travel expo had 300 representatives from autonomous organizations, tourism related organizations and travel agents at the four-day event.
The Our Country Travel Gallery Hall displayed travel information material tailored for different generations of travelers in the form of the travel web tune gallery. The hall also showed off travel products produced through collaboration with famous writers. There were also contents in fusion with various industrial areas.
Travel information displayed like an art gallery comes in various types, depending on the age of the travelers. The Our Country Travel Products Hall provided time for travel consultations, and travel reservations, while the Marine Tourism Hall put on exhibit various tour programs for fishing villages. The events also included a session for travel writers and tourism experts to speak.
A number of supplementary events included a session for tourism creation firms from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Room No. 300 of the Seminar Hall.
The admission fee to the expo, which opened at 10 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m., was 5,000 won per person, while no admission fee was required for middle and high school students, the handicapped, the persons whose livelihoods are support from the government, and members of the families of patriots and veterans who get government support.
The annual event is the 12th this year. Programs this time around are more finely detailed, each having its own display hall.
For those planning to travel around the country this year, they can have consultations and even make reservations for hotels or airplanes at the Our Country Travel Product Hall. Attracting special attention is a tour of fishing villages, which includes islands off the mainland. Information is available at the Marine Tourism Hall.
Also, various travel writers and tourism experts told their stories on travel around the country. There were also performances of traditional dance and music of various regions of Korea.
Sideline events included a session on “Creative Tourism Enterprises Explaining Their Operations” in Room No. 300 at the Seminar Hall. Around 40 Creative Tourism Agencies provided new tourism information regarding domestic travel to local autonomous organizations and related companies represented at the event.
The expo also covered information on the exploration of new tourism sites, among others.
During the entire four-day event, Dong-A Oatska provided healthy beverages free of charge.
This year’s Lunar New Year is just around the corner, and it can be extended to a nine-day holiday, provided people can get an additional two days off from their annual vacation periods. Those looking for ideas on where to travel will find them here.
Every year, some 100,000 viewers come to the expo. They come to the special halls for ideas, information and assistance to visit such places as fishing towns, islets and new spots for vacationing with safety and comfort.
The hall that got the most attention was the My Country Travel Hall, where various tour information is tailor-made for each generation of travelers. They were introduced to all age groups — from people in their 20s right up to folks in their 60s — including ideas on where to stay, what to eat and what to see.
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