Korean Wave Hallyu was in Istanbul:As part of the Korea Tourism Roadshow 2024 Istanbul event, representatives of South Korean agencies and DMCs met with their Turkish counterparts.
Korea Tourism Roadshow 2024 Istanbul, organized under the leadership of Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), took place on Monday, February 26, at Radisson Blu Hotel Şişli.
Managers of Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, as well as representatives of South Korean DMC companies, travel agencies, and representatives of travel and MICE agencies operating in Turkey and organizing tours to South Korea attended the event.
The Istanbul leg of the Korea Tourism Roadshow 2024 event, which will take place in 3 cities: Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, started with B2B Network meetings.
After the B2B meetings, the roadshow event continued with the presentations of Korean agencies, DMCs and Turkish agencies organizing tours to Korea.
Before the presentations, Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) Istanbul Director Hyuncho Cho, Turkish Travel Agencies Association (TÜRSAB) Vice President Davut Günaydın and Republic of Korea Consul General in Istanbul Woo Sung Lee made speeches.
KTO Istanbul Director Hyuncho Cho came to the podium first to make the opening speech.
HYUNCHO CHO: KOREA NOW CREATES A NEW OPPORTUNITY IN TURKEY’S TOURISM SECTOR
“The Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Tourism Organization have designated 2023 and 2024 as the “Korea Visit Year”; Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) Istanbul Director Hyuncho Cho stated that he focused on promotional activities to announce the 100 K-Culture event; “As a result of these efforts, tourism demand from many countries, including Turkey, increased last year compared to the pre-COVID-19 period,” he said.
SISTER COUNTRY TO VISIT: SOUTH KOREA
Hyuncho Cho said, “Thanks to Korean TV series, television shows, K-Pop, cosmetics, Korean culture and Korean brands, Korea is no longer the superficially known “Brother Country”; He stated that it has become a “Sister Country” to be visited.
Hyuncho Cho pointed out that “the number of people who want to go to Korea is greater than ever before.” “For this reason, Korea now creates new opportunities as a new market in the Turkish tourism sector,” he said.
DAVUT GÜNAYDIN: SOUTH KOREA IS WAITING FOR US WITH ITS NATURE AND CULTURE
TÜRSAB Vice President Davut Günaydın started his speech by drawing attention to the friendly relations between Turkey and South Korea.
Davut Günaydın shared the following statements: “When South Korea is mentioned, our ties of culture and friendship come to mind. During a trip to Korea 15 years ago, I said that South Korea was a “blood brother country”. One of the most important unifying elements between the two sister countries is tourism. As a travel agency with approximately 18 thousand branches; I would like to express that we will be very happy to introduce “Sister Country: Korea”.”
“I ESTIMATE THAT THERE WILL BE A SERIOUS INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF TOURISTS GOING TO KOREA”
Günaydın stated that he “predicts that there will be a significant increase in the number of tourists from Turkey to South Korea in the coming days”; “According to 2022 figures; The number of Turkish citizens going abroad is approximately 8 million… This is a significant capacity… I think we would have exceeded the 9 million level if there were visa problems. We stayed at 8 million because we were facing a serious visa problem. I think we will push 9 million in 2024. We are ready to send tourists to our sister country. Korea is waiting for us with its nature, culture, gastronomy and everything. “Believe me, we will have many memories to share in our brother country,” he concluded his words.
WOO SUNG LEE: THE BROTHERHOOD RELATIONSHIP OF THE TWO COUNTRIES IS VERY VALUABLE FOR ALL OF US
Woo Sung Lee, Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Istanbul, made his speech in Turkish and said: Korean Wave Hallyu was in Istanbul
“Korea and Turkey have long-standing historical and emotional ties; The bond of brotherhood and close friendship they have established since Turkey’s participation in the Korean War has continued from past to present. Korea has a rich history and deep-rooted tradition; It is a destination where you can experience the latest examples of digital technology. Traveling is safe and comfortable thanks to high public safety and developed infrastructure. “This brotherly relationship between the two countries is very valuable for all of us.”
YUNUS CAN: APPROXIMATELY 32 THOUSAND TURKS TRAVELED TO SOUTH KOREA IN 2023
After the opening speeches, Korean Tourism Organization Istanbul Office Representative Yunus Can made a presentation about the country’s tourism and South Korean destinations.
Yunus Can pointed out that the number of people traveling from Turkey to South Korea reached its highest level in 2023; He shared the figures for 2019 and 2023.
According to this; While 31 thousand 293 people traveled from Turkey to South Korea in 2019, this figure reached 31 thousand 748 people in 2023, with an increase of 1.5 percent.
KOREA AGENCIES EXPLAINED THEIR COMPANIES AND OPERATIONS
Within the scope of the event, representatives of DMC and agencies operating in the Korean market, including NNT DMC, SSR TOUR, TOMO KOREA TRAVEL, Generations of Adventure and More World Travel, shared brief information about their companies.
Representatives of Arisu Tour, Jane DMC Korea, Kim’s M&T, Premium Pass and US Travel made presentations about their companies, activities and operations.
*Hallyu (Korean Wave), It is the spread of popular Korean culture around the world, which has been going on since the 1990s. The Korean wave, first known in East, South and Southeast Asia with K-drama and K-pop, then began to spread all over the world with K-pop videos on the internet, social media and YouTube.
Korea Tourism Roadshow Istanbul event ended with a dinner invitation and a raffle.
