Chungbuk attracts Japanese tourists

North Chungcheong Province is gearing up efforts to attract Japanese tourists.

Tourism-related organizations within the province hosted a briefing session at a hotel in Tokyo on April 17, according to the province’s authorities, Wednesday.

This is the first time the province has held such event in the capital city of Japan.

The event drew some 120 people from tourist and air companies, where the Korean officials advertised Cheongnamdae, presidential vacation villa, the forthcoming Osong Cosmetics & Beauty Expo and the Jecheon International Music Festival .

They also visited a number of Japanese travel agencies to engage in PR activities.

They agreed with their Japanese counterparts to operate four charter flights in August and two in October for the route linking Haneda and Cheongju international airports.

The province also plans to open a regular route connecting Tokyo and Cheongju next year. It will also be providing a tour program next month for Japanese tourist agencies, with plans to take visitors to key landmark destinations in the province.

The province’s move comes amid a sharp decline in the arrivals of Japanese tourists, affected by the steady depreciation of Japanese yen.