Zhu Shanzhong Meets Lee Cham, Head of KNTO

On 27 November, Vice Chairman of China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) Zhu Shanzhong met Head of Korea National Tourism Organization (KNTO) Lee Cham and his party in Beijing.

Zhu Shanzhong extended warm welcome to the arrival of Lee Cham and his party on behalf of CNTA and Chairman Shao Qiwei. He said that top leaders of China and Korea have maintained frequent visits and communication between tourism sectors of the two sides has been close. Last year, state leaders of China and Korea designated 2010 and 2012 as “Visit China Year” and “Visit Korea Year” respectively. Miscellaneous bilateral exchange activities including tourism industry are expected to be held, to promote people-to-people contacts between the two countries. Zhu said that, South Korea is China’s largest source market in tourism. Impacted by the financial crisis, the total number of South Korean citizens traveling to China in last year dropped at 3,960,000, down 17%. However, there was a continuous increase in Chinese citizens traveling to South Korea. The number was 1,370,000, up 4.7% in last year. During January to October of this year, an increasing number of Chinese citizens made a trip to South Korea. Zhu indicated that, there are huge potentials for China’s outbound market due to China’s large population base, year-on-year expansion of rich people, and constant increase of holidays. World Tourism Organization forecast that 100 million Chinese will be going abroad for sightseeing by 2015. Therefore, it’s of great significance to develop peripheral tourism markets. Tourism authorities of the two countries should strengthen their cooperation and boost growth in the number of Chinese tourists to South Korea and South Korean tourists to China. Finally, Zhu Shanzhong invited his South Korean counterpart to lead his delegation to World Expo 2010 Shanghai China next year, so as to further reinforce cooperation in all related aspects.

Lee Sham said that cultural exchanges between South Korea and China enjoy a long history, and extensive contacts are being made in tourism sector. Tourism authorities of the two sides should strengthen their cooperation in cultural and tourism exchanges as well as other fields, increase mutual visits, and promote the bilateral study and communication. He added that he would lead a delegation to Expo 2010 next year.