In an effort to promote Southeast Asia as an international tourist destination, South Korea has joined hands with the 10 ASEAN member states.
A campaign will be conducted in 2017 to encourage the Korean people to “explore” ASEAN. The ‘Visit ASEAN@50: Golden Celebration Campaign’ will include programmes to introduce Koreans to all things ASEAN from food to business and socio-cultural aspects.
This will be conjunction with the 10th anniversary of the regional grouping next year.
The programmes would be carried out in Seoul and Busan throughout November, and would feature a culinary festival and trade fair, among others, the ASEAN-Korea Centre said which is also responsible for organising the campaign.
Secretary-general of the centre Ambassador Kim Young-sun expects hundreds of ASEAN companies from the food and beverage and other sectors to exhibit their products at the two events in Seoul.
In Busan, a seminar will be held for the academia and civil organisations to explore ways to enhance ASEAN-Korean socio-cultural ties.
The number of Koreans visiting ASEAN countries increased from 4.8 million in 2015 to six million so far this year, making ASEAN the most popular travel destination among Koreans.
Korea received nearly 1.8 million visitors from ASEAN countries last year and the number was expected to rise this year.
The ASEAN-Korea Centre was set up in March 2009 as an inter-governmental organisation to promote various exchanges between Korea and ASEAN member states.
