“Beginning of the 10 Million International Tourist Visits to Korea!
We Welcome the First International Visitors of 2012."
The Visit Korea Committee (VKC) offered the first welcoming event for international visitors on New Year`s Day, called Imjinnyeon (Year of the Black Dragon).
The event was targeted at the first visitor arriving in Korea through the Incheon International Airport on New Year’s Day. The first international visit happened to be Mr. Huang Wei (36) who departed from Shanghai and arrived at Incheon around 12:10 a.m. through the first international flight (Korean Air KE896).
As the first international visitor to Korea in 2012, Mr. Wei received a loud welcome from officials, given that 2012 marks the last year of the Visit Korea Year 2010-2012 campaign and faces the 20th anniversary of the Korean-Chinese diplomatic relationship.
Mr. Wei revealed, "I came to Korea with my wife to enjoy the beautiful winter in Korea and experience Hallyu [Korean Wave] in the New Year," and hoped, "I feel I am going to have a special year given that a lucky event already happened to me on New Year`s Day."
At the arrival gate to greet Mr. Wei were Ju-Min Hong (Secretary General, VKC), Katie Han (Executive Director of Marketing, VKC), and officials from Korean Air and Incheon Airport who offered him two China-bound, Prestige-Class roundtrip tickets, a one night stay in a suite at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, and two breakfast buffet passes along with celebratory gifts and flowers.
Katie Han also offered international visitors over KRW 1 million worth of Korea Grand Sale gift cards that were designed to promote tourism experiences for visitors to Korea. In addition, tumblers celebrating the New Year were presented to all visitors arriving on the flight.
During 2012, the final year of the Visit Korea Year campaign, the VKC will offer high quality tourism courses and launch the Restaurant Hospitality Campaign; beginning on January 9th, the committee will launch the 2012 Korea Grand Sale as well as offer promotions and incentives including a Free Shuttle Bus program for international visitors and One More Night Promotion.
