Uncovering Korea

A travel trade group from Jeddah flew to Seoul and were amazed to find a hidden gem just waiting to be discovered by Saudi travellers.

The group of travel agents from Jeddah were hosted on the trip by Qatar Airways and the Korean Tourism Organisation (KTO). The week-long trip was designed to showcase South Korea as a leisure destination, taking in the major tourism hot spots of Seoul, Busan and Jeju Island.

For all the travel agents on the trip, this was their first experience of Korea and the agents were excited to discover a hidden gem of a destination which they found to be fully geared up to cater to the needs of the Saudi traveller — offering late night shopping, Arab markets, halal restaurants and a safe and secure environment.

The agents enjoyed ATV rides on the mountainous and coastal terrains of Jeju Island, a submarine tour, a rifle train and a ride aboard the bullet train which reaches speeds of 310 kms / hour.

Other attractions included a visit to the 24-hour shopping markets of Dongdaemun which houses over 50,000 stores, a cable car ride from N Seoul Tower, a visit to two of the ‘top 10’ theme parks in the world, and a journey through the future of wireless technology.

The agents also explored the modern city of Seoul, with its state-of-the-art infrastructure, clean, safe and secured environment, friendly people, 24-hour shopping markets and world class theme parks.

Saudi Arabia is an emerging market for tourists to South Korea, with 2010 summer arrivals growing 80% compared year-on-year.

KTO and Qatar Airways have been working closely in positioning the destination among their clients with frequent fam trips and several other promotional campaigns since the launch of Qatar Airways direct flights to Seoul’s Incheon International Airport last year. The flight from Doha takes around nine hours and operates seven times a week.

Much of the tourism is composed of higher middle income travellers and educational tourism from schools and Universities.

While most Saudi visitors currently come to Korea from Riyadh, Seunghyun Hwang, regional director, KTO, Gulf region said the first fam trip of Jeddah travel trade, “could be a turning point in positioning Korea as the newest tourism destination for Saudi nationals in the Western region.

Syed Hafeez, a senior executive at STTB Travel agreed, describing Korea as a “miracle destination waiting to be discovered”, especially given that as Saudis travellers do not require a visa visit to enter the country.

Top Five things to do

1 See Seoul
The capital and largest metropolis in South Korea is also one of the largest cities in the world with a population of over 10 million. This exciting, vibrant city is also one of the world’s top financial and commercial centres with a highly technologically advanced infrastructure. Seoul Station houses the 350 km/h bullet train and Incheon International Airport has been rated the best in the world.

2 Experience Jeju Island
This island where Korean’s head to on holiday features swaying palm trees, circus shows, casinos, sandy beaches, 14 golf courses, scuba diving and much more. There are also spectacular volcanic landscapes — in fact the scenery on the island is so stunning that the island is one of the official finalists of the worldwide ‘New 7 Wonders of Nature’ campaign.

3 Busan beaches
This port city is known for its raw fish. There are six beaches that attract tourists from all over the world. Luxury hotels and a carnival boardwalk line the beach at Haeundae.

How to sell

How to get there:
Qatar Airways flies direct to Seoul’s Incheon International Airport in 8 hours 55 minutes from Doha. The agents flew business class from Jeddah.

Visas:
Citizens from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and the UAE can enter Korea for 30 days without having to obtain a visa prior to arrival.

When to go:
Korea has four seasons, with a wet monsoon/summer season in the middle of the year, and a cold winter from November to March. The island of Jeju off the southern coast is the warmest and wettest place in the country. The ideal time to visit Korea is during the autumn months (September-November).

During this time, the country experiences warm, sunny weather, skies that are cobalt blue and spectacular foliage that is perhaps the biggest draw. Winters are cold and dry and are a good time to visit if you are interested in winter sports as there are numerous ski resorts.

Spring (April-May) is also beautiful with all the cherry blossoms in bloom. However, it is very busy and one needs to book in advance to ensure accommodation is available.

The summer months are muggy and hot, and rather crowded. It is also when the monsoon season begins so many activities are subject to the fluctuations of heavy rain.

Contacts:
Korea National Tourism
Organisation (KNTO):
www.visitkorea.or.kr / +971 4 331 2288

What the travel trade said...

Abdul Jaleel M
Tours Manager, Al Jammaz Travel

As producers of trusted brands like Hyundai, Samsung and LG, my impression was that Korea is a country for business and nothing more. But that changed forever by the time we said goodbye to Seoul.

It’s a fabulous destination for families and I am wondering why it was not marketed earlier. I am sure the destination will become quite popular among the Arab community, because Arab travellers like to explore new destinations and for those who would like to explore a new destination, Korea is the best.

What impressed me most was the cleanliness, safety and privacy on one hand and beautiful landscape and facilities for children on the other. Be it museums, theme parks, entertainments or shows, everything is oriented towards children.

Zahid Hussein
Supervisor, ITC Travel

Korea is a nice, clean country with beautiful landscapes covered by mountains and water. The thing I loved most is its people — so friendly and respectful.

It’s absolutely a safe destination for tourists and will definitely become popular because there are many interesting things for tourists from Jeddah to enjoy like 24-hour shopping, theme parks, educational museums for children, technology centres and many more.

Jeju Island could be a perfect place for relaxation, while Seoul and Busan are for entertainment and nightlife. Activities for children include visits to Everland theme park (the fourth most popular theme park in the world), Zoo safari, Teddy Bear Museum, Chocolate museum and Riplley’s Believe it or not museum.

Majed I Redwan
Travel Consultant, Zahid Travel, Jeddah

This destination is simply amazing. I should have been here a long time ago. The country is so disciplined and everything runs on time. The people are friendly; the city is absolutely clean and treats foreigners with dignity and respect.

The destination has everything to offer for a Saudi client like shopping, theme parks, countryside, beaches, a multi-national atmosphere, international restaurants and above all, excellent weather.

Upon arriving and departing from Incheon Intl Airport, I realised why it has been rated as ‘Best Airport in the World’ for four consecutive years. The shopping areas in Seoul are well organised for families and kids. The Nanta show was amazing and highly recommended to all tourists visiting Korea.

Mohammed Abdul
regional manager, Al Rajhi Aviation

Korea is a fantastic destination which I believe will be the next big thing in our region. The scenic beauty is amazing, the cities are modern and dynamic.

It is a destination just waiting to be discovered. Apart from the stunning natural beauty, there are great opportunities for shopping with great shopping malls as well as street markets.

Korean culture and traditions will also be a big draw. The accommodation was first-rate and on a par with the finest hotels in the world.

For me Jeju Island was the highlight. This is a beautiful volcanic island not far from the mainland. It has fabulous walking trails and is especially known for its flowers. I was in time to see the flowers bloom, but missed the Cherry Blossom which is due in April.

Omar Jameel
Director, Al Shareef Travel

The destination is unique. Development is restricted in terms of actual land space as the country is 70% mountainous, but impressive. The climate was good and the environment is well taken care of. It has all types of attractions.

Our clients like to be spoilt for choice and South Korea has this, along with outstanding hospitality to compliment its attractions. The highlight of the trip was visiting the various resorts and natural sites.

To me as a travel seller, I need to know that my clients will be comfortable during their stay and I was left quite impressed at the quality of the facilities and attractions available.

I would sell the destination to family groups and businessmen along with medical tourists.

Syed Hafeez
tours manager, STTB

Korea has clean air, it’s well-organised, friendly and disciplined. This is a destination for all ages.

For example, families could visit Seoul which has exciting theme parks and endless shopping facilities, singles could go to Busan for jet skiing and nightlife and I would sell Jeju Island to couples.

The highlight was discovering that there were Muslims and Mosques, halal food, and an Arab market there. Experiencing a new culture was something I never thought about in Korea.

The accommodation was simply the best or a step ahead in terms of quality, technology and hygiene. All the hotels that I had stayed in Seoul, Busan and Jeju were equipped with electronic bidets.

Where to stay

Grand Ambassador Hotel, Seoul
The hotel is well-located in the centre of Seoul, close to the city business districts. Itaewon, Namdaemum and Dongdaemun markets are within walking distance.
(+82) 2 2275 1101 / amb@ambatel.com

Paradise Hotel, Busan
The five-star hotel offers the best for business and leisure travellers, with a spectacular view of Haeundae Beach, Korea’s most popular resort, and 538 luxurious rooms and a casino.
www.paradisehotel.co.kr

Lotte Hotel, Jeju Island
The largest resort hotel in Korea, provides lavish entertainment such as the Las Vegas-style Volcano Fountain Show and onsite Lotte Casino. Rooms have stunning views.
www.lottehoteljeju.com

The ritz-carlton, Seoul
This five-star luxury hotel in Seoul offers 375 breathtaking guest rooms, including 83 elegant suites and 100 club level rooms with exclusive amenities and commanding views.
www.ritzcarlton.com

Grand Hyatt Seoul
Located in the Yongsan district. Set on the historic Mount Namsan amid 18 acres of waterfalls and landscaped gardens, it offers grand luxury combined with relaxing comfort.
seoul.grand@hyatt.com

Jw Marriott Hotel Seoul
Ideally located in Korea’s most comprehensive multi-purpose complex in Gangnam in the heart of the business and entertainment districts close to the Convention and Exhibition centre. 82-2-62826262

When to travel
South Korea has four seasons ranging from very cold to very hot

JANUARY - FEBRUARY
Average temperature 2C.

MARCH - APRIL
Average temperature 15C.

May - June
Average temperature 25C.

July - August
Average temperature 29C.

September - October
Average temperature 23C.

November - December
Average temperature 6C.