The Korea Herald

Over 1m foreign tourists visited South Korea in July

More than 1 million foreign tourists visited South Korea in July, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Sunday, marking the first time the monthly figure has topped the 1-million mark.“The number of foreign tourists who visited the country in July is estimated at 1.02 million,” a ministry spokesman said. “It is the first time more than one million foreign tourists have visited the country on a monthly basis.”The previous record was 970,000 set in April.Ministry officials attributed th

Aug. 5, 2012

How to stay cool in the scorching summer

The coolest places in the country to beat the summer heat with families and friendsIt’s just too hot. A heat wave warning was issued for the first time in Seoul this week and the heat wave is likely to scorch the country for a few more weeks. However, there is an escape. Try these extremely cool ideas for chilling out during the dog days of summer.Ice artIce Gallery, the world’s first indoor gallery exclusively for ice sculptures, is in Seoul. Located across Jeongdok Library in Hwa-dong near Sam

Aug. 3, 2012

How to stay cool in the scorching summer

Koreans feel most welcomed in Japan

Koreans travelers feel the most welcomed in Japan, Thailand and Australia, according to a recent survey conducted by the hotel booking website Hotels.com. The top three popular destinations preferred by the 1,000 Korean tourists surveyed also include Japan (36 percent), followed by China (27 percent) and Thailand (17 percent). The respondents also voted Japan as the best culinary destination with the best local food, followed by France and Italy. They also said they spend about 25 percent to 49

Aug. 3, 2012

Frankfurt Museum Festival to be held Aug. 24-26

Frankfurt Museum Fest, one of Europe’s largest cultural festivals, will be held from Aug. 24-26 in Frankfurt, Germany. The festival features arts and crafts stalls, live music, and culinary highlights from around the world on Main River, where a cluster of museums are located. During the festival period, visitors can enter all museums free of charge with the special “MUF Fest badge,” available for four euros at tourism information centers in the central train station and Romerberg Plaza. Visitor

Aug. 3, 2012

KORAIL sees airport express passengers increase

Since the Korea Railroad Corporation began offering a 42 percent discount on the airport express last month, the number of passengers increased more than two-fold, officials said. KORAIL, which has been selling airport express tickets at 8,000 won since July 1, has seen its daily passengers increase from 899 to 1,749 on average.The airport express runs nonstop from Incheon International Airport to Seoul Station. The trip takes 43 minutes. Passengers leaving for international flights can go throu

Aug. 3, 2012

Italy to start Colosseum repairs in December

ROME (AFP) ― Long-delayed repairs to the 2,000-year-old Colosseum will begin in December in a project funded by Italian billionaire Diego Della Valle to save the crumbling monument, officials said on Tuesday.The culture ministry said the first contract for the restoration project ― an 8.3-million-euro ($10.2-million) tender to clean up the facade of the Roman amphitheatre blackened by passing traffic ― was awarded last week.The restoration of the Colosseum will last two and a half years and the

Aug. 3, 2012

Buy your next vacation souvenir in your hotel room

DALLAS (AP) ― Hotel rooms are no longer just a place to shower, sleep or maybe indulge in a breakfast in bed. They’re now also spots to pick up a souvenir ― and no, we aren’t talking about stealing the towels.Like that painting over the bed? How about that drawing next to the TV? At hotels around the globe, guests now have the option to purchase the art work in their rooms.For several years, hotels have invited local artists in to decorate hallways, lobbies and other public spaces. It’s a way th

Aug. 1, 2012

Climate change prompts French ski area to mull downsize

GRENOBLE, France (AFP) ― A modest ski area in the French Alps is ready to unbolt its chairlifts and rope off slopes as the local mayor concludes that climate change means the trails ahead will be rocky.Henri-Victor Tournier, the mayor of Biot, wants to clear cable towers from the 1,230-meter-high resort of Drouzin-le-Mont before the next elections in 2014 and convert the area to low-impact alpine activities.“There are lots of things to do in the mountains without having cables hanging over our h

Aug. 1, 2012

Paris Ritz closes for $170 million face-lift

PARIS (AFP) ― The Paris Ritz closes Wednesday for a two-year face-lift to bring the city’s best known luxury hotel into the 21st century and keep its mega-rich clientele coming back in an ever more competitive market.The renovation comes after the five-star hotel, which neighbours the famed jewellers of Paris’ Place Vendome but has not had a refit since 1979, failed to win France’s coveted “palace” designation marking a top luxury destination.Owned by Egyptian tycoon Mohamed Al Fayed, it was onc

Aug. 1, 2012

Global travel industry gears up for Muslim tourist boom

SINGAPORE (AFP) ― From halal spas to prayer rooms at airport terminals, the global tourism industry is gearing up for a projected boom in Muslim travel over the next decade, experts say.Their growing number and affluence means Muslims ― especially from the oil-rich Middle East ― are traveling like never before, and it is a trend that looks set to gather pace.Spending by Muslim tourists is growing faster than the global rate and is forecast to reach $192 billion a year by 2020, up from $126 billi

July 30, 2012

On the trail this summer

The Korea Tourism Organization suggests budget-friendly, eco-friendly vacation ideasHave you planned a summer vacation in advance, or are you looking for just any travel package at the last minute? As summer vacation season approaches, the dilemma of choosing between going abroad or staying in the country inevitably arises. Furthermore, many Koreans cannot afford to take off more than a week, even though summer vacation may be their longest break of the year.Overloaded with work and out of trave

July 27, 2012

KORAIL to extend night services from Pentaport

Korea Railroad Corporation has announced it will operate night trains for visitors traveling from the 2012 Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival to Seoul on Aug. 10-12. It will run night trains three times that will leave Geomam Train Station at 12:21, 12:40, and 1:00 a.m. and arrive at Seoul Station at 12:53, 1:12, 1:32 a.m., respectively. KORAIL said it would offer 50 tickets to participants of a Twitter event to promote the special night trains. To enter the lucky draw, follow the KORAIL Twitter ac

July 27, 2012

Fujita Kanko opens Korean office

Japanese hospitality company Fujita Kanko will open a Seoul office on Aug. 1, incorporating its Shanghai office, to expand its Asian business base. The company said it is seeking business opportunities in hospitality, leisure travel and the wedding and banquet business in Seoul based on its 57 years of travel business experience. “Opening the Seoul office and incorporating our Shanghai office demonstrates our firm commitment to the Asian market,” said the president Kazumasa Suezawa.Fujita Kanko

July 27, 2012

KTO releases carbon neutral travel package

The Korea Tourism Organization introduced a carbon neutral travel package and plans to donate part of its proceeds to an environmental NGO. The proceeds will also help anti-desertification and yellow dust prevention projects in Mongolia. Jointly developed by Korea Railroad Corporation, Hotel Sky Park, Hotel Shilla Duty Free and Green Asia, the travel package covers a three-day trip to Kanto region of Japan, which includes the greater Tokyo area. The package includes fare for the airport train or

July 27, 2012

KORAIL to open mini library on KTX

Korea Railroad Corporation has signed a memorandum of understanding with Kyobo Book Store to set up a mini library on KTX trains as part of its efforts to upgrade services for first class travelers and celebrate the year of books. From August, first class travelers will be able to read books and magazines on the train, which most of them are related to leisure, culture and travel, selected by KORAIL and Kyobo Book Store. About 4,800 books and magazines will be offered by the book store, which wi

July 27, 2012

Museum preserves legacy of John Steinbeck

SALINAS, California (AP) ― They were the stuff of another America: Tom Joad in “The Grapes of Wrath.”George and Lenny in “Of Mice and Men.” Lee Chong, Doc and the delightfully larcenous Mack and the bums in “Cannery Row.” Danny and Pilon in “Tortilla Flat.” Adam and Cal Trask in “East of Eden.”Whether you met these classic characters while reading the novels of John Steinbeck or you’re encountering them for the first time, they come to life at the National Steinbeck Center, a sprawling and moder

July 27, 2012

Museum preserves legacy of John Steinbeck

So much to see and do in London

LONDON ― The exterior of Westminster Abbey is imposing and grandiose.Our plan was simple: Pay the admission, stick our heads inside to see what it looked like, and then quickly duck out and move on to a museum.The museum never happened.That because expatriate Geoff Auerbach, my wife, Pat, and I were all dazzled by the thousand-year-old church where England’s kings and queens have been crowned since 1066. That is a lot of history.Iconic Westminster Abbey is, quite frankly, a lot of church with it

July 27, 2012

‘Door to hell’ burning for 40 years

In a desert in Turkmenistan, there is a giant hole of fire called “The door to hell” by locals.The crater was dug by Soviet geologists in a effort to discover natural gas in 1971 and the flames within have been burning ever since.As the team tapped into a cavern, the ground beneath the drilling rig collapsed and left a hole with a diameter of 70 meters.Fearing that the hole would lead to the release of poisonous gases, the team decided to burn it off. It was hoped that the fire would burn out wi

July 27, 2012

San Diego opens tourism office

San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau has opened a Korean office this week. The Korean office will be managed by private marketing agent Aviareps Marketing Garden, which will focus on promoting San Diego as an attractive travel destination in Korea as well as fostering cooperation with local travel companies and airlines, it said. “San Diego is the best destination for leisure travel and tourists looking for warm and clear weather,” said the head of San Diego travel bureau Joe Terzi. San Dieg

July 20, 2012

AirBusan launches Busan-Macau service

AirBusan launched a nonstop service between Busan and Macau on July 19. The flight departs from Gimhae International Airport on Thursday and Sunday at 10 p.m. and arrives at Macau International Airport at 12:25 a.m. local time. The return flight departs Macau at 1:50 a.m. and arrives at Busan at 6:10 a.m.AirBusan also offers flights between Busan and Hong Kong three times a week. The airline offers domestic flights between Busan and Gimpo and Jeju, and international flights between Busan and Tok

July 20, 2012