According to the Beijing Tourism
Administration (BTA), the capital received 51,176 South Korean
tourists in May, up 72 percent on the same period last year and
more than those from any other nation.
The number of tourists from South Korea to Beijing is expected to
reach 500,000 by the end of the year, 80,000 more than last
year.
A promotion was launched by the BTA in South Korea in mid-June, and
appears to be further boosting the upward trend this and next
month.
Beijing Bei Ao International Travel Service and China Youth Travel
Service (CYTS) have received over 10 big tourist group bookings
since the promotion, the biggest one comprising over 600
tourists.
BTA Vice Director Yu Debin said the association would provide with
the best and most convenient tourism services jointly with airline
companies and travel agents.
Ma Xiuping, director of CYTS, said the number of their student
tourists has increased 200 percent compared to last year, and they
made up a third of all group bookings since the BTA
promotion.
"Students will become leading consumers in years to come," said Li
Xuemin, vice director of the BTA's Tourism Promotion Department,
"Exploiting student-centered tourism is good for future market
development."
"With strong purchasing power, South Korean tourists spend over
20,000-30,000 yuan each on traditional Chinese medicines, the
effectiveness of which they believe in very much," Ma said.
They are also often interested in Chinese mahogany furniture, for
which they are led to the Chinese Antique Furniture Market at
Gaobeidian in Chaoyang District.
According to the BTA, 3.2 million overseas tourists came to Beijing
last year, bringing over US$3.1 billion with them. They are
expected to number 3.4 million this year, bringing in US$3.4
billion?-- one in seven of them South Korean.
(China.org.cn by Unisumoon June 30, 2005)