By Kim Yon-se
Staff Reporter
President Lee Myung-bak, citing Jeju Island's rivalry with Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong as a tourist destination, advised Jeju to expand its medical tourism to attract visitors from far and wide.
During a policy briefing from the self-governing local administration Monday in Seogwipo, southern Jeju, Lee said that Jeju should upgrade its tourism strategy to attract more Western tourists as well as more Asians.
``To attract more European visitors, Jeju should implement multi-faceted policies aimed at drawing tourists from various countries,'' he said.
Japanese, Chinese and Taiwanese accounted for the lion's share of foreign visitors to Jeju last year, according to the local government.
Lee instructed Jeju officials to map out measures to raise competitiveness suitable for the coming era of $30,000- $40,000 in per capita income in 10 or 20 years.
``The casino industry has been changed into the future-oriented convention business,'' he said. ``The past, stereotyped tourism will be different from the tourism when Korea becomes an advanced country.''
Lee visited Seogwipo to deliver an address at the opening ceremony of the 8th ASEM (Asia Europe Meeting) of Finance Ministers. He vowed to overhaul the economy-related laws and regulations in accordance with global standards, promote a business-friendly environment and lower taxes in order to attract more investment from abroad.
Lee pledged sweeping deregulatory reform to reduce the period of time required to build an industrial park from over two years to less than six months. He also vowed to lower the corporate tax rate from the current 25 percent to 20 percent and drastically improve the living environment for foreign residents.
Regarding global issues, such as climate change and soaring prices of oil and grains, Lee called for greater policy cooperation between ASEM member states. Specifically, he stressed the need for regional economic and financial cooperation.
The President said it is no overstatement to say that the world is faced with one of the gravest crises since the oil shock in the 1970s, with oil, food and raw materials prices skyrocketing.
``Mutual understanding and cooperation between region-based organizations should be further strengthened,'' he added.