Korea Grand Sale
The Korea Grand Sale is going to be held for the purpose of restoring tourism and revitalizing the domestic economy. Scheduled to be held from Aug. 14 to Oct. 31, the event will give away unprecedented benefits to visitors. A pre-Korea Grand Sale event will start a week before the grand opening of the main event (on Aug. 21) and start giving away benefits relating to accommodation and shopping to visitors.
Although the Visit Korea Committee (Chairman Park Sam-gu) usually holds a Korea Grand Sale during the off-season winter months, organizers decided to move up the date to revitalize the tourism industry. There is high anticipation for a public-private partnership as a large number of relevant government organizations including Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Ministry of Strategy and Finance; Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy; Ministry of Land and Infrastructure; Ministry of Health and Welfare; Korea Customs Service; Visit Korea Organization; Korea Airports Service; Incheon International Airport Corporation; the Federation Korean Industries; and other relevant organizations participate.
[[{"fid":"12305","view_mode":"body_image_right","fields":{"format":"body_image_right","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"The promotional poster for the Korea Grand Sale 2015.","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":""},"type":"media","attributes":{"alt":"The promotional poster for the Korea Grand Sale 2015.","height":770,"width":550,"class":"media-element file-body-image-right"},"link_text":null}]]As of Aug. 3, despite a short recruitment period, as many as 222 companies in diverse industries and 20,519 businesses have applied for participation. Unprecedented benefits including a 70 percent discount airfare for Jeju Air; a 50 percent discount pass for Everland; up to 80 percent discount of any purchase at Lotte Duty; and one free night after one night's stay at the Junior Sweet Room of Ibis Ambassador Seoul Myeongdong. For the purchase of any popular item at Olive Young, one will get as much as a 50 percent discount. North Seoul Tower, one of the most popular tourist attractions, and Korea Grand Sale will together offer a coupon which will give users a 40 percent discount on admission.
Apart from shopping options, the Korea Grand Sale will offer foreign visitors a variety of cultural experiences including an “original drawing show” and popular non-verbal performances at 50 percent discounted prices. The Korea Grand Sale intends to spread the knowledge of discount admission to palaces and museums which are offered on the Wednesday of every fourth week, the Cultural Day. In addition, by introducing foreigners to a traditional Korean market and a variety of tourist options, the Korea Grand Sale intends to make Korea a place that foreign visitors want to come back to in the future.
The opening ceremony marking the beginning of a welcome event will take place in Gwanghwamun Square, Incheon Airport, and Gimpo Airport on Aug. 14 simultaneously. In line with the theme “Magical Shopping Event and Festival,” the event will have a separate prize event which will give away magic boxes. Sponsored by participating companies, the Korea Grand Sale will also have a special theme week featuring “Must-See, “Must-Do” “Must-Buy,” and “Must-Eat” things, and give away many benefits.
Meanwhile, in a bid to spread the knowledge of exceptional benefits offered at the Korea Grand Sale, organizers have been running advertisements on the largest Internet Portal in China, Sina.com, and other influential foreign media channels since July. In addition, the Korea Grand Sale will host briefings on Korea as a tourist destination, targeting travel companies and media from China, Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.
Han Kyung-ah, the secretariat of Visit Korea Committee, said, “The Korea Grand Sale is a great opportunity to escape the slump in the tourism industry and seed for a new hope.” She added, “We will make every effort to make sure foreign visitors have a variety of experiences that are not limited to just shopping but are comprised of cultural experiences and various forms of festivities.”