Throwback ’70s theme in Boseong
Korail will offer a tourism program in front of Deukryang Train Station in Boseong County, South Jeolla Province, where both the old and the young can play games and visit stores of the ’70s. Boseong is renowned for green teas.
The rail operator has remodeled the station, and will open ’70s coffee and barber shops to take visitors back in time and reminisce about the good old days.
Korail’s Cosplay Festival, which will be held from May 2-31, will also allow tourists to play their favorite pastime games in front of the station such as spinning hoops and jumping rubber bands.
The station’s plaza will also have a roller skating rink, with guides dressed in ‘70s fashion.
Visit California
Movie mecca Hollywood and innovative tech hub Silicon Valley are not the only well-known places in the U.S. state of California.
The sunshine state has launched the “Dream Big” marketing campaign to invite Korean tourists to discover other parts of California ranging from wineries in Sonoma County to open roads between San Francisco and the Oregon border.
Those stopping in Los Angeles can check out theme parks in San Diego such as the Sea World and San Diego Zoo Safari Park.
California officials said Koreans were the seventh-largest group of visitors to the Golden State in 2013 when some 389,000 Koreans traveled to California and spent about $990 million. It expects the number of Korean tourists to reach 519,000 in 2018.
For more information, visit www.visitcalifornia.com.
Learn about computers in Jeju
The Nexon Computer Museum will hold a special event for children and parents next month on Jejudo Island in celebration of the Children’s Day on May 5.
On May 4-5, the museum will have Nexon’s famous game characters Dao and Bazzi, who appear in PC game-hit “Kart Rider,” to give history lessons about computers. They will also give pop quizzes and offer prizes for children.
The museum will hold education programs in which children can learn about keyboards and make personal accessories such as rings and badges with keyboard keycap materials, as well as draw future concept computers in 3-D.
NXC, the holding company of Nexon Korea, Korea’s biggest game developer, built the museum in 2013 as part of its social contribution. For more information, visit www.nexoncomputermuseum.org.
Fly business to Bali
To meet rising demand for overseas travel expected during Spring Tourism Week in May, Garuda, Indonesia’s flag carrier, will offer special sales discounts for Koreans.
The airliner will offer round-trip business-class tickets for Koreans planning to visit Indonesia’s tourist destinations such as Bali starting at 1.08 million won.
Those seeking to travel with at least two people, including friends and families, to Indonesia between May 5 and 9 will be able to grab this opportunity.
Garuda, which is part of the SkyTeam airline alliance, offers seven direct flights between Incheon and Jakarta, and six between the Korean city and Bali every week.
‘Spring Tourism Week’ in May
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will launch its second Tourism Week program for the spring season nationwide next month.
The program, in partnership with some 3,000 tourism companies and operators, will run in 17 regions from May 1-14.
Companies such as resorts and hotels participating in the state-led tourism program will offer a variety of programs with discounts at tourist attractions, in accordance with the regions’ culture and landscape.
For instance, operators in Gangwon Province will have leisure sports tourism programs, while those in the southwest Jeolla region will have special events introducing local food.
Hanwha Resorts will offer lodging discounts of up to 40 percent, and transportation companies such as KT Rental and Korea Railroad will offer discounts from 25 percent to 65 percent to those traveling during Tourism Week. For more information, visit spring.visitkorea.or.kr.
