The Korea Herald

‘New tourism aim quality, not quantity’

Jan 13, 2012

KTO chief stresses high-quality tourism, upgrading of the country’s imageWhile an ardent promoter of “long vacation culture,” President Lee Charm of the Korea Tourism Organization has yet to settle his winter holiday plans. With so many things he wants to accomplish in 2012, the final year of his three-year term, it may be a while before Lee maps out plans for another trip around Korea, the country he cherishes so dearly. Lee, a lover of mountains, took a two-week trip around the nation last sum
Story of a Sweet Lunar New Year

Jan 13, 2012

The Grand Hilton Seoul is helping guests celebrate Korea’s traditional Lunar New Year holiday in style with a choice of four “Very Sweet Holiday Package” deals through Jan. 24.All four packages include tickets to visit the “Sweet Museum,” which is being hosted by the Grand Hilton Seoul Convention Centre. The museum offers Korea’s first food and art exhibition staged by famous food artists using cookies, sugar and chocolates. The Cookie Package offers an overnight stay in a Deluxe Room, while The
KTO offers promotions for Chinese tourists

Jan 13, 2012

Expecting some 45,000 Chinese tourists to visit Korea during the first quarter of the year, the Korea Tourism Organization is offering special events.Celebrating the 20th anniversary since Korea and China set up diplomatic ties, Korea will have a Visit Korea Year ceremony in Beijing in February and hold cultural performance road shows in some 18 major Chinese cities. Simultaneously, the country is offering special discount promotions for China’s Union Pay credit card users. Those who shop with t
KTO picks six places to visit in January

Jan 13, 2012

The Korea Tourism Organization has selected the top six places in Korea to visit during the first month of the year for locals and foreign travelers. The selected places are Seoguipo on Jeju Island; Goseong in Gangwon Province; Suncheon in South Jeolla; Hadong in South Gyeongsang; Taean in South Chungcheong and Paju in Gyeonggi Province. While these regions are scattered all over the country, they are all great places to make New Year wishes while watching sun rise, the KTO said.The Seongsanilch
A heated wax museum war takes shape in Hollywood

Jan 13, 2012

LOS ANGELES -- Dissing Angelina Jolie normally isn‘t the best way to get ahead in this town.But tough times call for tough tactics in the war of the Hollywood wax museums.Madame Tussauds, which considers itself the ne plus ultra of wax artistry -- with the $25 ticket price to match -- is trying to best its cheaper competitor, the Hollywood Wax Museum, with a new marketing blitz stressing the defects in its rival’s paraffin starlets, singers and comics.In a wax version of a cola taste test, Madam
Skiing and snowboarding: Many people do both now

Jan 13, 2012

The relationship between skiers and snowboarders might still be a bit icy at times, but a versatile group has discovered there’s more than one way to get down the mountain.“Before, you were either a skier or a boarder. Now people do both,” said Greg Ditrinco, editor of SKI Magazine. “It’s a new phenomenon.”The crossover is being led primarily by snowboarders who are finding they can do more with two boards on their feet than one. Skis allow for more tricks in the pipes, and for more accessibilit
A wax museum war heats up in Hollywood

Jan 13, 2012

LOS ANGELES ― Dissing Angelina Jolie normally isn’t the best way to get ahead in this town.But tough times call for tough tactics in the war of the Hollywood wax museums.Madame Tussauds, which considers itself the ne plus ultra of wax artistry ― with the $25 ticket price to match ― is trying to best its cheaper competitor, the Hollywood Wax Museum, with a new marketing blitz stressing the defects in its rival’s paraffin starlets, singers and comics.In a wax version of a cola taste test, Madame T
Renaissance Seoul Hotel offers oyster promotion

Jan 13, 2012

Renaissance Seoul Hotel’s steakhouse Manhattan Grill is offering special dishes using seasonal oysters through Feb. 29. Using fresh oysters that are brought in from the Tongyeong region, Manhattan Grill presents the “Oyster Cocktail with Caviar” and “Special Oyster Set.”The Oyster Cocktail uses natural oysters that weigh approximately 1 kilogram and the chefs dress the oyster on the spot to maintain the freshness and the rich taste. The six-course Oyster Set gives one a chance to taste the winte
Japan's PM reshuffles Cabinet to win tax support

Jan 13, 2012

TOKYO (AP) _ Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda replaced five members of his Cabinet on Friday in a bid to win more cooperation from the opposition to raise the sales tax and rein in the country's bulging fiscal deficit.Two of the removed ministers had been censured by the opposition, including former Defense Minister Yasuo Ichikawa, who claimed he was unaware of the details of a 1995 rape of a schoolgirl by three U.S. servicemen on the island of Okinawa _ an incident that continues to deepl
Story of a Sweet Lunar New Year

Jan 13, 2012

The Grand Hilton Seoul is helping guests celebrate Korea’s traditional Lunar New Year holiday in style with a choice of four “Very Sweet Holiday Package” deals through Jan. 24.All four packages include tickets to visit the “Sweet Museum,” which is being hosted by the Grand Hilton Seoul Convention Centre. The museum offers Korea’s first food and art exhibition staged by famous food artists using cookies, sugar and chocolates. The Cookie Package offers an overnight stay in a Deluxe Room, while The
KTO offers promotions for Chinese tourists

Jan 13, 2012

Expecting some 45,000 Chinese tourists to visit Korea during the first quarter of the year, the Korea Tourism Organization is offering special events.Celebrating the 20th anniversary since Korea and China set up diplomatic ties, Korea will have a Visit Korea Year ceremony in Beijing in February and hold cultural performance road shows in some 18 major Chinese cities. Simultaneously, the country is offering special discount promotions for China’s Union Pay credit card users. Those who shop with t
KTO picks six places to visit in January

Jan 13, 2012

The Korea Tourism Organization has selected the top six places in Korea to visit during the first month of the year for locals and foreign travelers. The selected places are Seoguipo on Jeju Island; Goseong in Gangwon Province; Suncheon in South Jeolla; Hadong in South Gyeongsang; Taean in South Chungcheong and Paju in Gyeonggi Province. While these regions are scattered all over the country, they are all great places to make New Year wishes while watching sun rise, the KTO said.The Seongsanilch
Hong Kong "Capsule Bed"

Jan 9, 2012

"Capsule bed" manufacturer Eric Wong poses inside a modified capsule-like bedroom imported from Japan in his showroom in Hong Kong Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012. (AP) The structure, with each sleeping area has an air conditioner, a TV and an audio facility, mainly targets mainland China's travelers an
Like walking? Try the Himalayan range, all of it

Jan 6, 2012

In the shadow of Mount Everest and its magnetic lore, a cross-border route with a grand name, the Great Himalaya Trail, is being touted as an epic, untapped alternative to the bucket-list trek to base camp on the world’s highest mountain.Trekking this trail is an odyssey, not a routine vacation, and even promoters admit that it’s more a theory or consumer product for an untested market than a continuous path. Instead, it’s a web of paths, many unmapped and barely connecting, that meander east to
Plunging into Paradise at Atlantis Island resort

Jan 6, 2012

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas ― My daughter circled the sun, bobbing around the yellow mosaic tile work at the bottom of the pool. Everywhere in the Royal Baths, the water was no deeper than 3 feet, which meant that my 9-year-old could touch the bottom wherever she happened to float.I felt no need to play lifeguard. My iced coffee was within arm’s reach. A newspaper, unopened, lay at the foot of the lounge chair. I closed my eyes, preparing to take my own dive, not into water but deep relaxation, the