The Korea Herald

Foreign arrivals show boost for Greek tourism

Oct 25, 2013

ATHENS (AP) ― Foreign arrivals in financially struggling Greece increased 12.3 percent in the first half of 2013, official data show, backing government hopes of a bumper year for the key tourism industry.The national statistical authority said Wednesday that a total 5.42 million non-residents arrived in January-June, compared to 4.82 million a year earlier.It noted a significant increase in arrivals from the U.S., Russia, Germany, Bulgaria, France and Asia.Tourism accounts for more than 15 perc
Aristocrat says tourists threatening Florence

Oct 24, 2013

ROME (AFP) ― A descendant of Florence’s famous Medici family told AFP on Tuesday that mass tourism was a “threat” to his native city and called for it to be put on a Unesco list of endangered areas.“There is serious urban degradation, an overuse of the city, an insufficient attention to the artistic heritage of the city,” the angry prince, Ottaviano de Medici, said in a statement.The prince said he had presented a project called “Save Florence” on the website www.de-medici.com with 16 proposals
China’s travel law seen having temporary impact on tourism

Oct 23, 2013

The new Chinese travel law that prevents forced shopping trips and extra tour fees for overseas tour groups is having an immediate impact on the Korean tourism market, which has seen the number of Chinese tour groups take a tumble since the law came into effect on Oct. 1. According to Lotte Tour, a travel agency that handles Chinese tour groups, it has seen a large drop in the number of Chinese tour groups this month. “It went down drastically by around one-third or one-quarter of the usual,” sa
Korea launches ‘Delicious Travel’ drive to promote Korean food

Oct 21, 2013

The Korea Tourism Organization has announced its latest campaign for the fall season, highlighting must-eats from each of the country’s diverse provinces. “Food is one of the key things to look forward to when traveling,” said Kim Young-ho, executive vice president for tourism competitiveness at the KTO. “When Japanese tourists come to Korea, one of the first things they talk about is not the shopping, it’s the food.” Tourism officials of the KTO have compiled a wide range of programs, courses a
Calgary embraces the cutting edge

Oct 18, 2013

CALGARY, Alberta ― John Jackson and Connie DeSousa had professional experience many chefs would envy when they opened Charcut restaurant three years ago in their hometown. But they were still scared. Literally scared.Was Calgary ready for them?Despite time in some of the most prestigious kitchens in New York, San Francisco and Bonn, Germany, they weren’t sure how pig-head mortadella and bone marrow with escargot au gratin would play in a meat-and-potatoes town on the edge of the Canadian Rockies
Hotels.com offers 10 percent off bookings made with Android apps

Oct 18, 2013

The online accommodation booking website Hotels.com is offering a 10 percent discount on bookings made on Android mobile applications. The discount offer is available until Dec. 31. Customers must type in the discount code “MOBAND1.” Hotels.com has seen more than 20 million downloads of the mobile applications. The application is available as a free download for iPhone, iPad, Windows Phone, Android and Symbian devices. (wylee@heraldcorp.com)
Finnair offers new business class menu

Oct 18, 2013

Finnair is offering new menus developed by two well-known Finnish chefs for business class customers as part of its meal upgrade. Finnish chefs Pekka Terava and Tomi Bjorck participated in the revamp of business class menus that became available on the Incheon-Helsinki routes from Oct. 17. “In―flight dining is an important part of a distinctive travel experience,” said Maarit Keranen, Finnair’s head of service. “Pekka Terava’s classic Nordic flavors are a natural fit with Finnair’s identity, whi
EU revives airline carbon tax proposal

Oct 18, 2013

BRUSSELS (AFP) ― The European Union’s executive branch on Wednesday proposed taxing airlines for emissions made while crossing European airspace, revising a controversial plan the EU had to back down from last year.Under the new European Commission proposal, airlines using EU airspace could be subject to a tax for air-polluting carbon emissions on the portion of a flight that crosses the European Economic Area.The new proposal is an amended version of the EU’s ill-fated CO2 Emissions Trading Sch
Germany sees surge in Asian travelers

Oct 18, 2013

Asian travelers have contributed significantly to the increase in foreign overnight visitors in Germany with a rise of 3.4 percent in July, according to a German National Tourist Office tourism report. From January to July, the number of nights spent by Asian travelers increased by 2.3 percent with Chinese tourists taking up the largest share of the increase at 10 percent, followed by Koreans at 6.8 percent. Germany has seen an overall 3.4 percent increase in foreigners’ overnight stays over the
KTO to hold charity bike ride along the Han River

Oct 17, 2013

The Korea Tourism Organization will hold a charity bike ride next week to raise funds and awareness of the issues of orphans and sex-trafficking and to promote a newly opened bike path along the Han River. The KTO bike-a-thon festival will invite cyclists to the two-day event held from Oct. 26-27 along the Han River Ara Canal to participate in a 16-kilometer, 40-kilometer or 80-kilometer bike ride. The festival will also include entertainment activities such as water sports, a K-pop concert and
Through salt and mud, Cittaslow Jeungdo boasts beauty

Oct 16, 2013

This is the 10th installment in an 11-part series that introduces some of the best walking trails in Korea. Based on each trail’s popularity and the recommendations of travel experts and the Culture Ministry, The Korea Herald selected the 10 best places for walking and hiking. The series received funding from the Korea Press Foundation. ― Ed.JEUNGDO, South Jeolla Province ― The first city in Asia to ever receive the “Slow City” title as part of the Cittaslow movement, the small island of Jeungdo
Expedia offers up to 65 percent discount on hotels

Oct 11, 2013

Online travel booking site Expedia offers discounts of up to 65 percent on hotels worldwide. The promotion targets travelers preparing for fall trips or year-end trips and offers discounts on accommodations at major hotels in 36 countries in Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America. Some of the best deals in Asia include Ramayana Resort and Spa in Indonesia (65 percent off); Hotel Kuva Chateau in Taipei (55 percent off); and Royal Plaza on Scotts in Singapore (25 percent off). In Europe, Spain’s n
Conrad Seoul named Best City Hotel in Seoul

Oct 11, 2013

Conrad Seoul has been named the “Best City Hotel in Seoul” by the annual TTG Travel Awards for 2013, as well as the “2013 Best New Hotel in Asia-Pacific region” by the online travel magazine DestinAsian. The TTG Travel Awards is a prestigious annual event recognizing the best of Asia-Pacific’s travel industry since 1989. “As we mark our first anniversary this November, it is an honor for Conrad Seoul to be selected as the Best City Hotel in Seoul and the Best New Hotel in the Asia-Pacific region
Page, Arizona is the gateway to photographers’ dreams

Oct 11, 2013

Monument Valley is great place for a photographer to look up. Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend, 125 miles to the west, are great places to look down.The canyon and the bend ― a narrow slot canyon and a deep, broad stretch of the Colorado River ― are at the edge of Page, Arizona, a tourist town that serves as a jumping-off point for houseboats and watersports at Lake Powell.To visit Horseshoe Bend, where the deep green Colorado River suddenly turns 270 degrees at the bottom of a big red gorge,
In Vegas, eye in the sky guards money, not guests

Oct 11, 2013

LAS VEGAS (AP) ― Hotel maid Brandi Patrick was chased down the hallway at the Flamingo casino last year by a nearly naked man. She said she had to lock herself in a cleaning closet and, as the man rattled the handle, fumble around in her pockets to find her cell phone so she could call security.She said she’s haunted by the thought of what might have happened if she hadn’t had her phone. “Something could happen and no one would know it ’till the end of the shift,” she said.Las Vegas casinos ― so