San Francisco Community Delegation Visiting Seoul
By Cho Jae-hyon
Staff Reporter
A delegation representing Chinese and Vietnamese communities in San Francisco is visiting Seoul at the invitation of Grand Korea Leisure (GKL), a unit of the Korea Tourism Organization from Jan. 17 to 21.
The delegation, comprising six members, visited The Korea Times President Park Moo-jong and shared opinions on the promotion of Korean tourism.
William Lee, director of International Economic and Tourism Development of San Francisco, said a growing number of Chinese and Vietnamese Americans are expected to visit Korea in the future.
He said it will be a good idea to talk Chinese and Vietnamese Americans into visiting Korea on their way to China and Vietnam. ``We have never thought of that in America. I think the idea is very good,'' he said.
He said San Francisco has earmarked China, India and Korea as its ``three top emerging markets.'' The American city is also making all efforts to attract more Korean travelers to San Francisco.
Lee, who is visiting Korea for the first time, said that he felt Koreans are ``extremely well-educated.''
``Their knowledge of their world is much better than the average Americans. Their English is very good,'' he said.
He said most Americans don't know much about Korean culture but there is growing interest in Korea.
Lee said he was impressed by Korean medical tourism programs.
``We've looked at your medial tourism. It was very impressive. You come here, you see the tour sights, the costs seem much cheaper than us,'' he said. ``What is good here is that you follow all the rules and regulations of the FDA. Americans will feel comfortable.''