Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Fewer Koreans traveling to Japan

Number of Japanese to Korea rises in JulyBy Kang Seung-wooMore Koreans, angered by Tokyo's trade restrictions on Seoul, are refraining from visiting the neighboring country, with the number visiting Japan in July hitting its lowest monthly total in 10 months. However, the upward trend of Japanese travelers to Korea is continuing.As a result of the Japanese government's decision to tighten its control on exports to Korea, a widespread anti-Japan campaign has gained ground here, with people boycotting Japanese goods and trips to the country. The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) said, Thursday, about 561,700 Koreans visited Japan last month, down 7.6 percent year-on-year, and the lowest figure since September 2018 when an earthquake struck Hokkaido and a typhoon shut down Kansai International Airport. According to the Japanese organization, worsening bilateral diplomatic ties, Koreans' growing appetite for Vietnam and China as vacation spots, and the sluggish Korean economy contributed to the tourist decline. “In the past when natural disasters stopped tourists from visi

Aug 22, 2019By Kang Seung-woo

Korea steps up safety inspections on Japanese food products

Hotel Lobby

By Kang Seung-wooWestin Chosun introduces Smart Concierge The Westin Chosun Seoul has become the first hotel to introduce a Smart Concierge service, allowing guests to comfortably get information on restaurants, shows, exhibitions, tour programs and much more.The newly introduced service provides information in four categories ― restaurants, tour programs, tourist attractions and accommodation. There are 101 items of useful information offered in the QR codes placed on the concierge desk in the lobby and each guest room.It is also expected to increase the level of guests' satisfaction with digital discount coupons. The hotel presents discount benefits worth up to 10 percent for users of the service in collaboration with famous restaurants in Seoul.Haevichi celebrates Chuseok with wine promotionThe Haevichi Hotel and Resort Jeju is offering a Moonlight Winery Package, allowing visitors to sample various vintages.Available from Sept. 12 to 15 at the Glass Bar next to the hotel's outdoor pool, the promotion offers unlimited servings of 11 wines from sparkling to dry, and red, white and

Aug 21, 2019By Kang Seung-woo

Jeju, Da Nang, Bangkok top spots for Chuseok

More people are expected to visit Jeju Island during the Chuseok holiday. / Courtesy of SkyscannerBy Kang Seung-wooJeju Island, Vietnam's Da Nang and Thailand's Bangkok are favorite spots for Chuseok holidaymakers, according to a global travel search engine, Thursday, amid growing public interest in both shopping and sightseeing during the annual holiday. The finding is based on Skyscanner's analysis of searches by Koreans for travel destinations for Sept. 11 to 15. Chuseok is one of the nation's biggest traditional holidays and this year its four-day weekend starts Sept. 12. “The three destinations allow visitors to relax in a vacation spot, and at the same time they can also shop there,” a Skyscanner official said.People used to travel to their hometowns to spend time with their families and hold memorial services to honor their ancestors during the holiday, the Korean equivalent of Thanksgiving. However, many are gradually trending toward ducking out of, or shortening, family gatherings and other “stressful” ancestral rites, and instead opting for holiday d

Aug 21, 2019By Kang Seung-woo

Jeju, Da Nang, Bangkok top spots for Chuseok

Foreign tourists immerse themselves in Korean culture

Guests visiting Korea learn K-pop choreography at a dance studio in Seoul./ Courtesy of Airbnb KoreaCosmetics producers partner with Airbnb for foreign tourists By Jung Hae-myoung On Friday, a class was held to make vegan bath salts in Itaewon, Seoul. Several foreign tourists gathered around the Melixir headquarters, the office of Korea's first vegan makeup line, to make bath salts of their own under the guidance of make-up CEO, Lee Hana.The basic ingredients are all provided by the host, and the guests can make their own body scrub by putting in sea salt, Squalane oil and finishing with scents and colors of their preference.Lee said she decided to become a host for the Airbnb Experience because she and the company shared a similar vision.“The customers who use our products usually want to have an authentic experience through using our products and our programs,” Lee said. “Rather than remaining a one-off experience, guests can incorporate veganism into their lifestyle,” she added. This is part of Airbnb's Experiences program, where people can dedicate a few h

Aug 20, 2019

Foreign tourists immerse themselves in Korean culture

Macao St. Regis offers bespoke luxury experiences

The St. Regis Macao has been offering the personaized service to all guests since its grand opening in 2015. Courtesy of the St. Regis Macao Cotai CentralBy Bahk Eun-jiMACAO ― When thinking about a butler service at prestigious hotels, many can't help but think it is only for guests staying in the most luxurious rooms or suites.Since opening its doors in 2015, however, the St. Regis Macao has been offering the personalized and bespoke service to all guests for the duration of their stay. “Customers can feel comfortable at our hotel even if they don't like the destination. St. Regis' signature butler service, with the strongly recognizable brand, will make our guests' stay more memorable,” said Daniella Tonnetto, general manager of sales and marketing at the St. Regis Macao, Cotai Central, during an interview with The Korea Times.Butler service differentiates the St. Regis Macao from other high-profile hotels there. /Courtesy of the St. Regis Macao Cotai CentralAny guests can enjoy the exceptional round-the-clock service at the five-star hotel, which includes having coffee

Aug 15, 2019By Bahk Eun-ji

Macao St. Regis offers bespoke luxury experiences

Is Japanese tourism to Korea slowing down?

Japanese tourists look around in Myeong-dong, April 29. / Korea Times fileBy Kang Seung-wooAmid escalating anti-Japan sentiment here, there are growing whispers that the upward trend of Japanese travelers to Korea may not continue. The nation's tourism promotion agency said there are currently few signs of the influx stopping immediately, but it remains to be seen whether Korea would fall out of favor with Japanese tourists in the future. In the wake of the Japanese government's trade restrictions on Korea and removal from its list of preferred trading partners over the past month, Korean consumers have launched campaigns to boycott Japan-made goods and trips to the neighboring country, escalating bilateral tensions. “There are no official statistics on the decline of Japanese tourists coming to Korea,” a senior official of the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) said on condition of anonymity. “According to documents obtained from our Japan office, there were no signs that Japanese would stop traveling to Korea in July and August.”Japanese tourists are one of th

Aug 13, 2019By Kang Seung-woo

Is Japanese tourism to Korea slowing down?

Hallyu tour programs attract French tourists

French hallyu fans pose with Korean traditional hand fans and calligraphy in front of K-Style Hub in Seoul, Tuesday. A total of 88 French came to Korea on a tour program, PackHallyu, organized by the Korea Tourism Organization. / Courtesy of Korea Tourism OrganizationForeign tourists looking beyond just K-popBy Kang Seung-wooOphelie Cambay, an 18-year-old French tourist, looked absolutely thrilled as her long-cherished dream of attending a K-pop concert in Korea was about to come true. The girl, from Aix-en-Provence, southern France, is one of 88 French K-pop fans who came to Korea, Monday, on a tour program, PackHallyu, organized by the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO).The tour will take them to K-pop concerts and K-drama studios, as well as allow them to experience Korean traditional culture, during their three-week stay.“Going to Korea among K-pop fans is really like a dream come true,” Cambay told The Korea Times during their visit to K-Style Hub in Seoul, a hallyu-themed promotion center, Tuesday.“We always watch K-pop on the screen like YouTube, so to watch in

Aug 8, 2019By Kang Seung-woo

Hallyu tour programs attract French tourists

Hotel Lobby

By Kang Seung-wooGrand Hilton Seoul presents Oktoberfest packageThe Grand Hilton Seoul will present a special package to commemorate the 14th Grand Hilton Seoul Oktoberfest, which will be held on Sept. 7.The event is a re-enactment of Oktoberfest, the world's largest beer festival in Munich, Germany, and guests can enjoy unlimited German traditional handmade beer Grevensteiner and Veltins Pilsner as well as German buffet meals. The package includes two Oktoberfest tickets, one night stay in a room, and a late check-out service at 2 p.m. Fitness center, swimming pool and sauna are available free of charge. The package is from Sept. 6 to 8.Cilantro Deli offers 'fashionista' afternoon tea setThe Millennium Seoul Hilton's Cilantro Deli is hosting an afternoon tea set that is perfect for “fashionistas.”The exquisitely crafted sandwiches and desserts will delight the eyes as much as the palate, expected to be a huge draw for 20- to 30-something women interested in Instagrammable places.The tea set includes a choice of a large chocolate high heel or clutch bag, as well as other

Aug 6, 2019By Kang Seung-woo

Seoul's small eatery pushes customers' buttons

Chef and food chain entrepreneur Back Jong-won serves as a mentor in SBS' reality show “Alley Restaurant.” He visits small eateries which are struggling for various reasons and gives the owners advice on how to fix their problems to be reborn as trendy eateries. / Korea Times fileBy Kang Hyun-kyungA small mom and pop eatery tucked away in the corner of a street near Ewha Women's University in western Seoul has invited a slew of furious reactions from viewers of an SBS late night food show, for failing to live up to the standard of clean and healthy meals.The middle-aged husband and wife, who own the home-style meal restaurant, are being bashed by internet users after the 77th episode of “Baek Jong-won's Alley Restaurant” aired Wednesday. Some blamed the couple for forgetting their humble past, lamenting their self-serving use of the publicity did a disservice to their business. Some said their business tactic of going back to their old, bad recipes was stubborn, short-sighted and was virtual business suicide. Over a year ago before it made the SBS food show, t

Aug 2, 2019By Kang Hyun-kyung

Seoul's small eatery pushes customers' buttons

KTO focused on zero-waste tourism

Participants of the Korea Tourism Organization's eco-friendly tour pose at Upo Wetland in Changnyeong County, South Gyeongsang Province, July 21. / Courtesy of Korea Tourism OrganizationBy Kang Seung-wooFor Jang Ji-won, 25, it sounded like a tall order at first when he was participating in a zero-waste trip late last month, given that travel is filled with disposable products ranging from single-use toiletries to plastic cutlery to takeaway lunch boxes.The eco-friendly tour program was devised by the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) and introduced to the public for the first time this year as part of its efforts to raise awareness of the need to end a reliance on single-use items, particularly plastics, while traveling, and eventually send nothing to landfills.“When it comes to going zero waste while traveling, I felt it would be inconvenient and cumbersome at first,” the college student said. However, two days were enough for Jang to change his mind about eco-friendly travel after he and 19 other participants themselves planned a zero-waste trip and put it into acti

Aug 1, 2019By Kang Seung-woo

Travel & Food

Travel & Food

Fewer Koreans traveling to Japan

Hotel Lobby

Jeju, Da Nang, Bangkok top spots for Chuseok

Foreign tourists immerse themselves in Korean culture

Macao St. Regis offers bespoke luxury experiences

Is Japanese tourism to Korea slowing down?

Hallyu tour programs attract French tourists

Hotel Lobby

Seoul's small eatery pushes customers' buttons

KTO focused on zero-waste tourism

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