KTO gets big deal with Amway China

25,000 Chinese to be on Korean tour next year

KTO CEO Lee Charm

The state-run Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) said Wednesday that it has succeeded in attracting 25,000 Chinese tourists as part of an Amway China incentive tour.

The Chinese corporation of the American direct-sales company has decided to send groups of employees to Korea in May and June next year, according to the KTO.

The coastal cities of Yeosu and Busan as well as Jeju Island were selected as destinations for eight six-day trips, with 3,000 people visiting each time.

“We are proud to announce that we have successfully attracted 25,000 more tourists from China. They will be coming on a cruise next year for an incentive trip to coastal cities,” said KTO CEO Lee Charm.

The details were finalized on Dec. 26 last year as Amway China confirmed the tour with the KTO.

“The company initially planned a trip to both Korea and Japan last June. But the trip was at risk of being cancelled due to a diplomatic row between China and Japan over disputed islands in the East China Sea. So we suggested an alternative tour only to Korea during that period,” said Lee.

During the six-day trip the first and last days will be spent on the ship and four days will be spent on land. Two days will be spent in Yeosu and one day each in Busan and Jeju.

“Amway China has shown great interest in Yeosu for future investment in the Yeosu Expo site while Busan is attractive for shopping and leisure activities. Jeju received positive responses from a previous incentive tour by the Baojian Group from China which sent 11,000 employees to the island last year. The number of Chinese tourists has doubled since then,” said Lee.

Amway China offers an annual incentive tour. It has sent 10,000 employees a year to Australia, Taiwan, the United States, and Thailand. The trip to Korea is the largest Amway has ever organized.

As it will be difficult for the cruise ship to enter Yeosu Port due to a low water level, South Jeolla Province has agreed to open up Gwangyang Freight Terminal for docking.

The KTO expects the economic benefits from consumer spending from the trip to reach 40 billion won and the effect on production inducement to reach 72 billion won. <The Korea Times/Yun Suh-young>