Travelers collect gift bags, coupons as gov’t launches Welcome Week

Jang Mi-ran, left, second vice minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Lee Boo-jin, second from right, CEO of Hotel Shilla, who has been appointed as the chairperson of the Visit Korea Committee, hand out welcome bags to foreign visitors arriving at Incheon International Airport on Friday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

 
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Visit Korea Committee welcomed foreign visitors arriving in Korea at Incheon International Airport on Friday to kick off Welcome Week, a campaign initiated by the culture ministry to “warmly welcome foreign visitors to the country” from Friday to May 10. 
 
The event was attended by Lee Boo-jin, the CEO of Hotel Shilla, who has been appointed as the chairperson of the Visit Korea Committee, Jang Mi-ran, second vice culture minister, and Incheon International Airport Corporation CEO Lee Hag-jae.  
 
 
The Culture Ministry said Friday that it organized this welcoming event as part of its 2024 Visit Korea Year campaign, just in time to greet foreigners, especially from Japan and China, who have long holidays during this time. In an effort to boost tourism, the Culture Ministry has designated the years 2023 and 2024 as Visit Korea Year and set a goal of attracting a cumulative 30 million tourists by 2027.
 
The launch event took place on Friday morning with a performance from K-pop girl group fromis_9.  
 

Lee speaks during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Korea Welcome Week that kicked off on Friday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

 
Foreign travelers arriving in Korea during Welcome Week can receive a welcome bag at booths stationed at both terminals of Incheon International Airport, as well as at Gimpo, Gimhae and Jeju. The welcome bag includes various discount coupons that can be used at 31 different businesses for shopping and accommodation across the country.  
 
“The number of foreign tourists visiting Korea in January and February has more than doubled compared to the same period last year, and the tourism market is regaining vitality faster than before,” said Jang. “The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is working to ensure that more foreign tourists can visit Korea and enjoy various types of K-culture.”
 
Lee Boo-jin also added that this event has been organized to “warmly welcome all foreign tourists to Korea, hoping that they start their trip in Korea pleasantly. We sincerely hope that everyone who visits Korea has a memorable time.”  
 
The Culture Ministry said it plans to hold another round of its Welcome Week in the latter half of this year around September and October.  
 
 

BY YIM SEUNG-HYE [[email protected]]