Many people converge on the pavilion of Jeju Special Self-governing Province to look at Jeju’s World Natural Heritage during the 2016 Seoul International Travel Mart at the Seoul Grand Hilton Hotel.

The Jeju World Natural Heritage Center is participating in the 2016 Seoul International Travel Mart (SITM 2016) at Seoul Grand Hilton Hotel from Sept. 20 to 21 to highlight Jeju’s World Natural Heritage. 

A total of about 800 exhibitors, including 300 companies from 40 foreign countries, are participating in the SITM 2016, jointly hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Visit Korea Committee. The Jeju Special Self-governing Province is operating a publicity booth and is holding tour explanation sessions to publicize Jeju’s World Natural Heritage values.

Jeju’s participation in the SITM 2016 coincides with the “2017 Visit Jeju World Natural Heritage Year” in celebration of the 10th anniversary of UNESCO’s designating Jeju a World Natural Heritage site. During the fair, Jeju will publicize the prominence of Jeju’s World Natural Heritage to tourist product planners to encourage them to curate products related to the island. 

An animation titled “Travel to Jeju’s World Natural Heritage” and a video on “UNESCO’s Triple Crown” will be shown at the booth of the Jeju Special Self-governing Province. An English newsletter will be given out for free, and a hands-on event will be held to promote Jeju’s breathtaking sights. 

Kim Hong-doo, head of the Jeju World Natural Heritage Center, said, “Jeju’s participation in the SITM, designed to promote the island’s beauty, will not only serve as an occasion to publicize the 10th anniversary of UNESCO’s designating Jeju as a World Natural Heritage and 2017 Visit Jeju World Natural Heritage Year in Korea and abroad, but will also have several countries to plan tourist products based on Jeju’s World Natural Heritage.”

Jeju has designated next year as the 2017 Visit Jeju World Natural Heritage Year to celebrate the 10th anniversary of UNESCO’s designating Jeju’s volcanic island and lava tubes as a World Natural Heritage site. The provincial government plans to hold diverse programs and events targeting Korean and foreign tourists. 

A breath-taking view of Seongsan Ilchulbong. Jeju Island, which achieved UNESCO’s “Triple Crown,” is a global recognized treasure for its environment assets. (Photos: Jeju Special Self-governing Province)

JeJu’s UNESCO Triple Crown 

Jeju Island achieved UNESCO’s coveted “Triple Crown," a Biosphere Reserve, World Natural Heritage status, and Global Geopark. The international designations make the island an international environmental treasure. World Natural Heritage sites are tangible assets with outstanding universal values that cannot be replaced if lost. They must be preserved and maintained for the whole of humankind.