Seoul hosting global tourism events

By Kang Seung-woo

Leaders of the global tourism industry are flocking to Seoul as the capital is hosting a series of high-profile tourism events until next week.

The Seoul International Travel Mart (SITM), which kicked off on Monday, is underway at the Grand Hilton Seoul until Friday and a conference of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) will be held from Sept. 16 to 19 at the Seoul Shilla Hotel, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Wednesday.

The city government plans to take advantage of the two global events as a springboard to promote its tourist attractions as well as infrastructure for meetings, incentives, conferencing and exhibitions (MICE). As part of its move, it plans to run various programs, including Seoul night tours and shopping and visits to the Joint Security Area (JSA) and Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).

The SITM, an annual travel expo since 2015, is drawing 400 foreign buyers from 45 countries as well as 800 representatives from local travel agencies.

The fair has gained a reputation for serving as a platform providing international professionals with business opportunities with domestic organizations and showing recent tourism trends of Seoul and Korea.

Some 900 representatives from 50 countries are expected to attend the seventh UNWTO Global Summit on Urban Tourism ― the largest event in the industry.

Plus, Seoul will be the first city in Northeast Asia to host the conference that will take place under the theme of “A 2030 Vision for Urban Tourism.”

The global summit is an annual event, first held in 2012 in Istanbul, Turkey.

The summit will provide opportunities to exchange ideas for creating a sustainable and competitive city and discuss important issues regarding the future of urban tourism.

Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon will be accompanied by tourism ministers from countries renowned for tourism, including Thailand and Spain, and have opportunities to exchange expertise and experience to help enhance urban tourism.

“With Seoul gaining a presence in global tourism, we are set to discuss the city's advantages in the Fourth Industrial Revolution and urban regeneration,” a city official said.