Travel Bits

Caribbean Bay to unveil ‘Mega Storm’ 

Caribbean Bay, the world’s largest indoor/outdoor water park, is getting set to introduce the world’s largest funnel water slide -- Mega Storm.

The new attraction is only the second of its kind in the world, following Yas Waterworld’s Dawwama ride in Abu Dhabi. Caribbean Bay’s Mega Storm measures 355 meters, roughly 1.5 times bigger than the Dawwama.

The large-scale inner tube waterslide will take riders through an exhilarating series of heart-stopping quick drops before ending with the attraction’s main feast -- a water-filled mega funnel that will have riders sliding back and forth in a wide pendulum swing at speeds of up to 50 kilometers per hour.

Mega Storm will start its soft opening (the attraction will run for limited hours) on June 13, with its grand opening on June 20. Caribbean Bay is located in Yongin-si, Gyeonggi Province, next to the Everland amusement park.

Visit Fiji at Grand Hilton Seoul

Tourism Fiji has forged a partnership with Grand Hilton Seoul to offer summer getaway packages enabling local tourists to feel like they are in Fiji while staying at the hotel.

The “Happy Island Fiji Package,” which will be offered until July 31, will allow guests to relax at the hotel with beautiful artificial plumeria flowers and aromatic handmade soap from Fijian cosmetic brand Pure Fiji.

The package offers a discount coupon to the Tropical BBQ Festival at the hotel’s restaurant and outdoor terrace.

Furthermore, Tourism Fiji Korea and Grand Hilton Seoul will hold a lucky draw event for package guests, and one lucky couple will receive a voucher for a studio room and breakfast for three nights at the Hilton Fiji Beach Resort & Spa on the island.

KLM Airlines launches KakaoTalk service

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is launching its KakaoTalk service, which will allow customers who have befriended KLM to book flights, select seats and make inquiries 365 days a year and 24 hours a day via the KakaoTalk messenger. The service is available from June 4.

KLM currently offers Korean cuisine in its in-flight meals, prepared in collaboration with chefs from Seoul’s Samcheonggak, and has a Korean-speaking staff ready at the Amsterdam airport. Also available on social media is the voluntary “Meet and Seat” service, which allows passengers onboard to network with each other via Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Established in 1919, KLM boasts a wide-reaching global network of 139 destinations. It is the first European airline to operate night flights that depart from Incheon International Airport at 12:55 a.m. and arrive in Europe in the morning. Additional hours and destinations are also available through KLM’s partnership with Korean Air and Air France.

Rail cruise in Korea

Korail Tourism Development is gearing up to promote its nationwide rail cruise called Haerang in an effort to attract more foreign tourists during the summer.

The Haerang cruise express offers three-day and two-day tourism programs enabling travelers to see Korea’s beautiful landscapes while staying overnight in the train’s hotel-style rooms.

It travels as far as Jeonju City in North Jeolla Province, where travelers can visit its famous hanok villages of traditional Korean homes, and Busan to see the Haeundae Beach.

From 2014 to August 2015, about 200 foreigners, including those who booked a ride for this summer, will have taken the train. Around 70 percent of the foreigners come from China and Hong Kong, the state-run railway tourism operator said.

For more information, call 1544-7755, or visit www.railcruise.co.kr.

Festival in Itaewon

Yongsan-gu will hold a cultural festival in the multinational district of Itaewon every Saturday and Sunday until June 20.

The district office said that it would hold various shows, including traditional music performances mixed with modern electronic music, hip-hop and Korean harp performances by Korean and foreign artists.

The seven-day Itaewon Weekend Cultural Festival will be held at the Itaewon plaza near Noksapyeong Station and at the War Memorial of Korea between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

“We hope this festival will turn out to be memorable for both locals and foreigners, who have rejuvenated Itaewon as a tourist attraction,” said Yongsan-gu Mayor Sung Jang-hyun.