By Yun Suh-young
The Lotte Group plans to complete the construction of a Universal Studios theme park in Korea by 2016, the group chairman said Monday.
At a press conference hosted by the Visit Korea Committee (VKC), Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin, who is also chairman of the VKC, said that his group hopes to see Universal Studios open here in 2016, although the specifics are yet to be discussed.
Shin said the Universal Studios, along with a foreigner-only casino, would be an excellent means to boost the tourism industry as well as provide jobs.
"About 12,000 new jobs would be created due to the theme park and it would create about 100,000 more job opportunities in nearby stores and restaurants," said Shin.
"Also, even if our group doesn't build a casino, it would be great to have another casino in our country for foreign visitors. Singapore became a great tourist attraction due to Universal Studios and by building casinos and integrated resorts like the Marina Bay Sands."
If opened, the theme park in Korea will be the sixth Universal Studios in the world and the fourth in Asia.
Shin seemed hesitant to talk about the subject as the efforts to attract the American theme park are currently seeing slow progress.
The project to lure the global attraction was first announced in 2007 but delayed due to the financial crisis. In June last year, Shin met with Universal Parks & Resorts (UPR) President Thomas Williams and Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Moon-soo to confirm their commitment to the project. But the land to construct the theme park had not been confirmed until now.
At the press conference to wrap up the three-year achievement of the VKC which was launched in 2010, Shin stressed the importance of the tourism industry, recalling his meeting with former Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.
"During my meeting with Mr. Lee I learned that the three important driving forces of Singapore were the IT, finance, and tourism sectors. I think the tourism industry is a very important industry that can lead the nation," Shin said.
"It is a pity that our tourism industry takes up only about 5 percent of our GDP whereas in other developed countries it takes up over 6 to 7 percent."
Shin also announced his plan to attract the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) in Korea.
"The regional conference of the WTTC will be in September next year in Korea. I eventually hope to attract the world-level conference to Korea by 2017," he said.
On the future of the VKC, Shin said it will continue on in any format due to the upcoming 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang.
"The format of the committee may change but an organization will definitely and must continue to promote our country. I hope the next chairman will take the reins and successfully carry on," said Shin.
 |
Shin Dong-bin |
At a press conference hosted by the Visit Korea Committee (VKC), Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin, who is also chairman of the VKC, said that his group hopes to see Universal Studios open here in 2016, although the specifics are yet to be discussed.
Shin said the Universal Studios, along with a foreigner-only casino, would be an excellent means to boost the tourism industry as well as provide jobs.
"About 12,000 new jobs would be created due to the theme park and it would create about 100,000 more job opportunities in nearby stores and restaurants," said Shin.
"Also, even if our group doesn't build a casino, it would be great to have another casino in our country for foreign visitors. Singapore became a great tourist attraction due to Universal Studios and by building casinos and integrated resorts like the Marina Bay Sands."
If opened, the theme park in Korea will be the sixth Universal Studios in the world and the fourth in Asia.
Shin seemed hesitant to talk about the subject as the efforts to attract the American theme park are currently seeing slow progress.
The project to lure the global attraction was first announced in 2007 but delayed due to the financial crisis. In June last year, Shin met with Universal Parks & Resorts (UPR) President Thomas Williams and Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Moon-soo to confirm their commitment to the project. But the land to construct the theme park had not been confirmed until now.
At the press conference to wrap up the three-year achievement of the VKC which was launched in 2010, Shin stressed the importance of the tourism industry, recalling his meeting with former Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.
"During my meeting with Mr. Lee I learned that the three important driving forces of Singapore were the IT, finance, and tourism sectors. I think the tourism industry is a very important industry that can lead the nation," Shin said.
"It is a pity that our tourism industry takes up only about 5 percent of our GDP whereas in other developed countries it takes up over 6 to 7 percent."
Shin also announced his plan to attract the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) in Korea.
"The regional conference of the WTTC will be in September next year in Korea. I eventually hope to attract the world-level conference to Korea by 2017," he said.
On the future of the VKC, Shin said it will continue on in any format due to the upcoming 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang.
"The format of the committee may change but an organization will definitely and must continue to promote our country. I hope the next chairman will take the reins and successfully carry on," said Shin.
![[K-POP INTERVIEW] What are MOMOLAND's comfort foods? [VIDEO]](http://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/210122_MOMOLAND_WEB_4d864d902f7b.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
