Korea's tourism evolution can be seen at one glance through the 24th Korea World Travel Fair scheduled to be held from June 2 to 5
The Korea World Travel Fair (KOTFA) is hosting its 24th exhibition from June 2 through 5 this year with the slogan “Korea to the World and the World to Korea." Especially this year, they are expecting to up its scale to 1.5 times greater than previous years.
KOTFA has opened its doors ever since 1986 and has become the main festive event representing world tourist market of Korea. KOTFA Co. Ltd. is a pioneer of int'l tourism exhibitions in Korea and hosts 4 major exhibitions: Korea World Tour EXPO, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Tour EXPO, Busan int'l Travel Fair (BITF), and Gyeonggi Int'l Travel Mart (GITM).
Joo Hwa-joong, the president of KOTFA Co. said, “These are evolutions, not revolutions,” adding, “The int’l tourism exhibitions have been quite successful in the past in Korea. However, we should be more awakened and continually try to improve to meet the changing environment.”
As for this year, KOTFA has already hosted the 9th Daegu-Gyeongbuk Tour EXPO on April 15 to 18 in EXCO-Daegu. 2011 is the official “Visit Daegu Year.” More importantly, Daegu city will be hosting the “2011 IAAF World Championships.” Int’l Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) started back in 1983 in Helsinki, Finland and has now become one of the world’s top 3 major sports events along with Summer Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup Football Games. IAAF has 212 country members, which is more than those UN has. On this year’s IAAF, Daegu is expected to hold more than 2,000 world class athletes, 1,500 delegates, and 2,500 some worldwide press from Aug. 27 to Sept. 4. Some 6.5 billion spectators from worldwide are expected to watch this event. Detailed information can be obtained at www.daegu2011.org.
The 24th Korea World Travel Fair (KOTFA), the biggest int’l travel exhibition in Korea will last 4 days from June 2 to 5 on the 3/Floor of COEX C-Hall, Dss-Hall, and D1-Hall. Some 60 countries around the world with Korea’s 13 domestic self-governing Regional Province will be participating. People will have an opportunity to hear tourist information and attractive travel packages as well as the latest trend in travel from 480 some companies, organizations, and public departments.
This year especially, as part of “Visit Korea Year 2010 to 2012,” the visit year committee will be hosting side-by-side in the same COEX building the 2011 Korea Int’l Travel Mart (KITM 2011) to jointly boost tourism of Korea. In hosting KITM 2011, the committee has planned to invite 150 some capable buyers from worldwide tourism sectors including media and to introduce them the plans inside “Visit Korea Year 2010~2012” as well as 2011 Formula 1 and will be having a B2B Travel Mart consultation sessions where tourist related facilities such as hotels will have an opportunity to provide direct travel consultation on the spot.
In addition to this, KOTFA will be hosting a special exhibition for “Arab Culture & Tourism” for the first time in Korea. This is joined in hands with Korea-Arab Society (KAS). KAS (www.korea-arab.org) was officially established on July 28, 2008 between Korea and 22 Arab countries to promote further ties not only in the economic field but also in political and cultural areas as well as academia and the media. In this exhibition, 13 Arab countries – Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, Arab Emirates– are scheduled to participate and will provide visitors with chances to see the Arab culture, art and various tourist attractions which are rarely known to Korea.
2011 KOTFA has expanded its size as well as contents along with sophistication. Major Korean tourism companies will partake in this event including Mode Tour, Hanjin Tour, Tour Baksa, Tour Dalin, etc. and is planning to hold seminars to explain about tourism and present special tourist packages designed only for KOTFA participants establishing a “One-stop Direct Market” for tour planners.
Tickets to KOTFA can be purchased online at www.kotfa.co.kr and are available on site at COEX. Adults are 3,000 won, student’s up to high school is 2,000 won and the group visitors consisting of over 20 receive 50% off the total amount. Seniors over 65, low income basic-life subsidized individuals, Veterans of Korea, Kindergarteners, and tourism industry related Individuals can enter free of charge.
The exhibition starts each day at 10AM until 6PM daily during the 4 days.