Korea Tourism Organization announces Visit Korea Year 2010–2012 with a celebrity show on Al Aan TV

The Korea Tourism Organization had organized a press conference in Dubai, UAE on 5th May 2010, during the Arabian Travel Market to announce the launch of “Visit Korea Year 2010-2012” campaign and the launch of a new comedy TV program on Al Aan TV titled “Korean, Not Korean”.
Mr. Baeho Kim, the Regional Director for KTO Dubai office, welcomed the press and introduced the campaign: “VISIT KOREA YEAR 2010~2012” which will be running over a 3 year period aiming to introduce the elegance and flavor of Korea to tourists visiting South Korea with offers and promotions like never before.
The Visit Korea Year Committee has planned to offer special incentive programs, such as “Seoul Grand Sale” where tourists can enjoy discounts with   a lot of participating outlets. Visitors can also avail the benefits of special accommodation package programs, which allow tourists to receive an extra night free after staying 3 or 4 nights in participating hotels around the country. Additionally, tourists can access discounts on tickets for traveling within the country by road, rail or boat. To ensure round the clock tourism service, KTO operates a 24hr tourism and interpreter service on 1330 for all foreign tourists.
A variety of festivals await the visitors such as the Hallyu Dream Festival, Busan Fireworks Festival, Korean Food Festival, Jeju Ole Trekking Festival, Tae-an Environment Festival, DMZ and Tourism World Peace Music Festival, and World Culture Festival during this period.
Regionally, KTO Dubai office have already launched a series of promotional activities including the opening of Arabic website (www.elakorea.com), producing new Arabic brochures including the Muslim Food Guide Book and some special PR activities such as the production of a special comedy episodes in Korea through collaborations with Mr. Wonho Chung, a Korean comedian who was born and raised in Middle East. The show will be aired on Al Aan TV to promote Korea as a favorable touristic destination in a new distinguished and compelling way.
Commenting on Korea tourism growth, Mr. Kim mentioned that about 7.8 million travelers had visited Korea last year, a 13.5% increase over 2008, and 8.5 million travelers are expected to visit Korea by the end of this year. With the 3 years long Visit Korea campaign, Korea aims to attract 10 million foreign visitors by 2012.  Though Korea has been well known for its high-technology products such as Samsung and LG in this region, the country is also rapidly emerging as one of the leisure destinations in Asia.  The KTO Dubai Office promotes Korea as a new family destination which is safe, clean and friendly, and aims to attract 100,000 visitors from the region this year. Commenting on the partnership between Al Aan TV and KTO, Mr. Ihab Al Khosousy, Regional Sales Manager at Al Aan TV, said, “The new show “Korean, not Korean” will introduce South Korea as a auspicious tourism destination in a new and distinguished style”
The new comedy show that was produced by Al Aan TV and presented by Wonho Chung will start airing on Al Aan TV on 5th of May. It is an idea initiated by the TV station to do something different and memorable for KTO and thus help them to develop their promotional strategy. It is a 3-minutes duration that will run on air 10 times daily through out the day.