ICTP announces Korean Tourism Organization as newest member

 

Since its inception in 1962, the driving focus of the Korean Tourism Organization (KTO) has been to create and support necessary tourism facilities and services such as hotels, travel agencies, and taxi companies. As the company developed, the KTO further expanded its endeavors to include international promotion, developing and modifying the Korea tourism industry infrastructure, and developing tourism complexes to better accommodate a larger numbers of tourists. During the 1980s, in response to the increased desire of Koreans to travel abroad, the KTO added Korean tourism development to its agenda. 

 

In 1962, the first recorded number of international visitors to Korea was only 20,000, with numbers soaring to one million by 1978. In 1988, the number reached 2 million; in 1998, there was a record 4 million visitors to Korea. The number of visitors to Korea has doubled every 10 years, with the trend seeming to hold steady with 6 million recorded visitors as of 2005.

 

"The Korea Tourism Organization is delighted to join the ICTP and to be able to share the responsibility of using travel in a sustainable and green way which will insure the future of our industry. ITCP will allow us to gain awareness of the green credentials and initiatives of our destination and also network with like-minded travel industry professionals," said Ramy Salameh, PR Manager of the Korean Tourism Organization.

 

Professor Geoffrey Lipman President of ICTP said that the participation of the Korean Tourism Board in ICTP is very welcome – particularly given the leading role that the Republic of Korea is taking in promoting transformation to a Green Economy.

 

Lately, the KTO has been focusing its efforts on developing tourism technology as well as combining Hallyu and the tourism industry through Hallyu marketing. By developing Hallyu tourism and other areas where international audiences have already shown interest, the KTO hopes not only to stimulate the Korean tour industry, but also further share the Korean culture with the world.

 

ICTP Chairman Juergen T. Steinmetz said: “Korea has become a hotspot around the globe, not only in the travel and tourism sector, but also in its culture reaching out around the world. From daily TV series to pop music, Korean culture is popular everywhere. ICTP is proud to welcome the Korean Tourism Organization as a member of our coalition.”