Travel Line
By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
Camping Festival to Open in Gapyeong
The international summer camping event is inviting participants.
The 2008 Federation International de Camping et de Caravanning (FICC) Gapyeong Rally will kick off for an 11-day run on July 25.
The annual rally is a leisure feast where people can enjoy camping and caravanning while experiencing the culture of the host country. It is the second time for Korea to host the rally, following the first in 2002, and around 7,000 campers from 33 countries are expected to take part.
Camping and caravanning, the environmentally-friendly traveling style using tents, cabin houses and caravans is popular in Europe and America, and is emerging as a new leisure culture in Korea along with its adoption of a five-day workweek.
An area on Jara (turtle) Island in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, will become the camping venue with ample space where 100 caravans, 40 mobile houses and 700 tents can be set up. Participants can rent facilities or bring their own.
Those interested can fill out an application form at www.worldcamping.org by April 30. The rally fee is 110,000 won for adults for the 11 days.
Working Holiday in Western Australia
Western Australia is emerging as an ideal destination for Koreans wanting to go on a working holiday.
Tourism Western Australia promotes working holidays in the region for the first time in Korea as an Australian government agency.
With a working holiday visa, travelers can get a job in the country to supplement their travel budget. Australia allows such people a one-year stay, and allows a one-year extension. Those accepted are allowed to work for up to six months in one workplace, and also can study English for a limit of four months.
According to the Australian government, Korea ranked fifth for the number of working holiday visas issued in July 2003-June 2004 fiscal year. But the ranking jumped to second in the next fiscal year and held the position for two years.
Various job positions are currently on offer in Western Australia, which is seeing the most flourishing economy now ― from mines to restaurants, hotels, resorts and travel agencies.
The tourism body has made leaflets jointly with Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific Airways, which provide services to Perth, capital of the state of Western Australia, to provide information about working holiday programs. Further information can be obtained by writing to korea@westernaustralia.com.