By Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff Reporter
It is not until 2012 that Korea aims to attract 10 million foreign tourists to its shores.
However, Seoul says that its official goal for this year is 10 million foreign visitors. Asked about the discrepancy, a city official said that the goal was unrealistic but was made for the purpose of spurring tourism due to a string of big international events to be held in Seoul.
"Just about all visitors come to Korea through Seoul so why not go for a bigger goal," the official said.
The city plan smacks of election year politics with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon running for re-election on June 2. In cooperation with the Visit Korea 2010-2012 campaign, Seoul set the goal of creating 30,000 new jobs and financial effects worth 6 trillion won.
Starting with the Hi Seoul Festival in May, the city will host various events, including an aquatic sports festival on the Han River and the Seoul Design Fair celebrating the city's appointment as World Design Capital 2010.
The city will concentrate on high-spending tourists who visit Seoul for conventions or medical purposes.
The capital expects to reinvigorate the local economy by boosting tourism. "For instance, we can create one job for every 26 ordinary tourists we attract, but attracting 13 convention visitors or 12 medical tourists has the same economic effect," a city official said. "Investing in specialized fields of tourism will double the ripple effect on the economy."
The city is going to invigorate the convention industry, raising its target to hold 150 conventions and draw 300,000 visitors. Seoul attracted 230,000 convention-goers to 120 meetings last year.
One of the biggest events Seoul will host this year is the G20 summit in November. The city announced that it will hold the summit on an artificial floating island on the Han River, which will be completed in September.
It will also host the "Korea MICE EXPO" - the nation's sole MICE (Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conventions and Exhibition) industry exhibition organized by the Korean Tourist Organization.
Seoul sees medical tourism as another high-value industry and aims at drawing 52,000 tourists this year.
"Health check-ups, dermatology, dentistry, plastic surgery and traditional herbal medicine clinics will be the major areas targeting medical tourism," the official said.
The city has opened a support center, offering information on clinics, visas and sightseeing.