Korea to hold shopping bonanza for foreigners

By Lee Hyo-sik

Korea will launch its largest shopping-oriented tourism festival across the country early next year to attract more foreign visitors, particularly those from Japan, China and other Asian nations, according to the Visit Korea Committee.

Under the slogan titled ``Korea Grand Sale 2011,’’ which will begin on Jan. 10, 2011 and last through Feb. 28, the state-funded tourism promoter said more than 14,000 department stores, shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, theme parks and other hospitality-related establishments will participate in the nationwide campaign.

Those who plan to visit Korea can obtain a wide range of discount coupons and membership cards, which can be used at retailers, restaurants and other businesses here, at the overseas branches of the Korea Tourism Organization, cultural centers, travel agencies and from airline firms. Coupons will also be available at Incheon International Airport and other airports here, as well as at major tourism sites, retailers and promotional street vendors.

``Over the years, an increasing number of Chinese and Japanese tourists have come here to shop for a variety of consumer products. The Korea Grand Sale is a nationwide shopping tourism celebration during which foreigners can enjoy shopping, food, hotel accommodation, cultural shows and other tourism services at lower prices,’’ said Robert Ro, the secretary general of the Visit Korea Committee.

He said the festival is designed to bolster Korea’s image as an attractive tourism destination and thus draw more travelers from overseas, adding the scale of the 50-day-long promotion will be three times larger than the Seoul Grand Sale 2010 hosted by Seoul Metropolitan City.

``The festival will serve as a platform for impressing foreign visitors while developing Korea tourism. We shall do our best to upgrade the Korea Grand Sale into one of the most attractive international shopping tourism festivals among Asian countries,’’ Ro stressed.

Those participating in the sales event include the four major department stores here ― Lotte, Shinsegae, Hyundai and Galleria ― and the duty free shops ― Donghwa, Walkerhill, Shilla, Paradise and Lotte.

The nation’s large discount stores and shopping malls will also offer foreign tourists an array of goods and services at discounted prices, while those with children can experience adventure at Korea’s two largest amusement parks ― Everland and Lotte World.

Additionally, non-Korean tourists who stay three nights or more at 30 designated hotels, including Lotte, Shilla and Chosun, will be provided with one night complimentary accommodation, and special food and beverage offerings.

During the festival, the committee will operate a free shuttle bus between Seoul and the Alpensia Resort in Gangwon Province for foreign tourists wanting to ski and enjoy other winter sports as part of their vacation. Free shuttle buses operating between Seoul, and Gyeongju, Jeonju, and Busan will be available daily as usual, except for Mondays.

The committee will also organize a range of street events for foreign visitors to make their experience here memorable and fun.

For more information on Korea Grand Sale 2011, visit the committee’s web site at www.visitkoreayear.or.kr.