The Korea Herald

Statue of Liberty interior to re-open next month

NEW YORK (AP) ― Visitors to the Statue of Liberty will once again be able to go inside the monument, starting next month.David Luchsinger, superintendent of the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island, made the announcement Tuesday.He said the interior of the statue would be open to the public again starting Oct. 28. That’s the Statue of Liberty’s 126th birthday. The interior had been closed off to visitors since October 2011 as part of a renovation project.

Sept. 14, 2012

Sheraton Macao offers special package

New Sheraton Macao Hotel, Cotai Central, offers a special package in celebration of its opening from Sept. 21-Dec. 31.The Sheraton 75th Celebration Package includes a one-night stay for two in Deluxe Room, breakfast or lunch buffet for two, choice of one-way CotaiJet Cotai Class ferry ticket from Macau to Hong Kong or a HK$100 offer at Shine Spa for two and special Sheraton 75th anniversary commemorative memento. The package is available for $180 (HK$1,398) per room per night and subject to 10 p

Sept. 14, 2012

KTO invites Asian bloggers to promote Korea Tourism

The Korea Tourism Organization is inviting bloggers across Asia to a special tour event to promote Korean tourism from Oct. 22-26. Those who wish to attend should choose one thing they want to do, see or listen to in Korea and create a video clip or write a post about the topic. They get extra points if registered with the Facebook, Twitter and Weibo page of the KTO and promote the event through the channels or their blogs. The application period is from Sept. 10-23 and finalists will be announc

Sept. 14, 2012

KTO opens Istanbul office

The Korea Tourism Organization opened an Istanbul office this week in response to the surge in Korean tourists to Turkey and the growing popularity of Korean pop culture among young Turkish people. The KTO expects the office will promote Korean tourism to Turkish people by introducing Korean dramas, movies and music. It also plans to draw more business travelers to Korea. Last year, 17,298 Korean tourists visited Turkey and a total of 70,266 people visited the country during the last five years,

Sept. 14, 2012

Learning to love Disneyland again

ANAHEIM, California ― As we walked across the broad, brick-paved plaza, a burst of music swelled, the strings rising to cinematic heights amid a pounding of kettle drums. A man in a crisp white shirt waved and beamed. Perfectly manicured flowers swayed in the breeze.It felt, for a moment, that we had accomplished something greater than simply walking out the gates at Disneyland in Southern California.But that is the trick of Disneyland, I learned after a recent trip to the “Happiest Place on Ear

Sept. 14, 2012

New regional tourism network launched in Korea

A group of nine provincial governments and a private “micronation” created a regional tourism network this week to promote diverse travel programs in different provinces in Korea. Nine mayors of provincial governments and the CEO of the Republic of Naminara, a privately owned island in Chuncheon, Gangwo n Province, launched the travel consortium The United Nations of Imagination to promote regional tourism.“Nami Island declared itself a micronation in 2006; it has become a famous tourist destina

Sept. 14, 2012

New regional tourism network launched in Korea

Six Flags near Atlanta to build tallest ride in park’s history

AUSTELL, Georgia (AP) ― Six Flags Over Georgia outside Atlanta is planning to build the tallest ride in the theme park’s 45-year history.Park officials announced that SkyScreamer, an extreme swing ride, will spin guests at 65 kph atop a 24-story tower.SkyScreamer will be four stories higher than Goliath, the roller coaster that climbs higher than many of the skyscrapers in downtown Atlanta.Six Flags is in Austell, just west of Atlanta off Interstate 20.Six Flags officials also announced a new ri

Sept. 7, 2012

New Berlin airport opening faces delay again

BERLIN (AP) ― The opening of Berlin’s new airport looks set to be delayed for the second time this year, with local officials considering further postponement to fall 2013.The new Willy Brandt Airport will replace the aging Tegel and Schoenefeld airports, which served West and East Berlin respectively during the Cold War. But construction has faced technical problems and it has become an increasing embarrassment to local politicians.The airport’s planned June 3 opening was scrapped with just a f

Sept. 7, 2012

Global hotel prices up by 4 percent in first half

Hotel prices went up by 4 percent in the first half of the year, showing a recovery in the hotel industry, according to the Hotel Price Index by Hotels.com.But that means travelers paid more on average for their hotel rooms during the first six months of 2012 in all parts of the world, with Europe and the Middle East region showing a 1 percent increase in hotel prices, 6 percent in the Pacific region, 5 percent in North America and 4 percent in Asia. “The hotel industry bounced back in the first

Sept. 7, 2012

KTO holding riverside concerts in Gwangju, Daegu

The Korea Tourism Organization is holding a concert at riverside parks from Sept. 8-9 in Gwangju and Daegu as part of efforts to facilitate tourism near river areas. The concert titled “Two Wheel Concert” will feature bike ride events and musical performances by top Korean and foreign singers and musicians such as pop diva Kim Wan-seon, girl group Dal Shabet, New Age pianist Yang Bang-eon and Latin jazz band Nueva Manteca for the Gwangju concert, and singer JK Kim Dong-wook, Kim Tae-woo and Arab

Sept. 7, 2012

France to hold second international food festival

‘Fête de la Gastronomie’ attracts epicureans worldwide with its finest delicacies“A successful dish is a thing of beauty and balance, born of the spirit and hand of man,” said Michel Gurard, renowned French Michelin three-starred chef and a founder of Nouvelle cuisine, an innovative method of cooking to create food low in calories. Not only is he a world-famous chef, he is also the patron of an upcoming international food festival that will be held across France in late September. France is a ce

Sept. 7, 2012

France to hold second international food festival

Sarasota: Where culture, nature share the stage

SARASOTA, Florida ― It is a still, hot day on Sarasota Bay as we slide our kayaks into the water. Too lazy to use our oars, we drift a little and watch the mullet jump while we wait for the last members of our tour to arrive. Suddenly a pelican swoops down and grabs a silvery fish, startling us.We set off a few minutes later, seven of us with little or no kayaking experience. Kelly, our guide, points his oar in the direction he wants us to go, then stays in the middle of our disorganized pack, s

Sept. 7, 2012

Sarasota: Where culture, nature share the stage

Down syndrome child stopped from flying

LOS ANGELES (UPI) -- A boy with Down syndrome was prevented from boarding a plane from Newark, N.J., to Los Angeles, his outraged parents said.Bede Vanderhorst, a 16-year-old with Down syndrome, was stopped by airline officials and not allowed on the American Airlines flight he was supposed to take with his parents, Joan and Robert Venderhorst. Joan Vanderhorst began videotaping the incident on her cell phone, telling KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, she believed her son’s civil rights were violated. She a

Sept. 5, 2012

Luxury travel services lure big spenders to Korea

Travel agencies offer exclusive, customized services for very rich foreign travelersWhen Jessica Alba was spotted at a night club in Gangnam earlier this year, everyone wondered why the Hollywood star was in Korea. Photos taken at major tourist attractions in Seoul proved she was travelling with her family. Behind Alba’s stay in Seoul was a private travel service company, which arranged a private guided tour for her and her family. The service came with tour guides equipped with language skills

Aug. 31, 2012

Luxury travel services lure big spenders to Korea

‘Service quality key in luxury travel service’

Korea should upgrade the quality of its travel services in order to attract more tourists and develop the travel industry, according to Jiny Jung, head of Cosmo.Jin Tour, a company which offers premium travel services to elite travelers. “More people from other parts of the world travel long distances to come to Korea as our national status rises. Amidst this trend, we should look back at our travel service quality and think about how we can improve it to draw more people to the country,” said J

Aug. 31, 2012

‘Service quality key in luxury travel service’

KTO upgrades English travel mobile application

The Korea Tourism Organization has upgraded its English-language travel information mobile application to help foreign tourists find more detailed information on Korea. The 2.0 version of Visit Korea includes descriptions of tourist attractions, restaurants, accommodation and shopping information and directions. “With the surge in the number of smartphone users, the KTO has launched a mobile application service that will help foreign tourists explore Korea,” said a KTO official in charge of the

Aug. 31, 2012

German Tourist Board launches new ‘Top 100’ mobile app

The German National Tourist Board has launched its “Top 100” mobile app to help tourists discover the country’s most popular tourist attractions. The GNTB’s first mobile application for iOS and Android devices feature descriptions of attractions in Germany’s 16 states, mobile coupons to the attractions as well as real-time news about Germany. “The Top 100 will strengthen communication with our visitors and raise Germany’s profile as a travel destination around the world,” said Petra Hedorfer, ch

Aug. 31, 2012

Western Australia Tourism presents wild flower travel package

The Western Australia Tourism Board presents a wild flower travel package available for purchase at four travel agencies: Mode Tour, Very Good Tour, Hanjin Travel and Lotte JTB. Western Australia boasts about 15,000 flower species and a dazzling landscape with lush scents and colors from September to November, attracting tourists, photographers and flower experts every year to see the spectacular scenes. The eight-day travel package which starts at 3.2 million won includes round-trip airline tic

Aug. 31, 2012

Conflict decimates Syria tourism: official report

DAMASCUS (AFP) ― Tourism in Syria has been decimated by more than 17 months of deadly conflict, with hotel rooms once let to foreigners now often occupied by people who are refugees in their own country, official figures show.Revenue from tourism has plummeted 75.4 percent since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad’s rule erupted, the prime minister’s office was quoted as saying by the government daily Tishrin on Wednesday.A government study showed that tourism generated just 12.8 bill

Aug. 31, 2012

San Diego’s North County more than just a pretty face

SAN DIEGO ― Maybe you’ve always suspected that there was more to San Diego’s North County than beach towns, rolling hills, expat giraffes and a walled kingdom of brightly colored plastic. But frankly, they had me at beach towns.I always figured the rest ― even the two marquee attractions, Legoland in Carlsbad and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park near Escondido ― was just gravy. Or icing on the cake. Or maybe, given San Diego’s love of beer, the chaser after the pint.But now I’ve spent several days

Aug. 31, 2012

San Diego’s North County more than just a pretty face