The korean outbound travel market has recorded its lowest growth since the liberalization of overseas travel, which made in 1989.
The slower growth this year was largely attributed to the world-wide recesseion and New government's reform drive to eliminate
In addition to these adverse circumstances citied as the prime reason for the recent drop is the staedy settlement for excessive booming of overseas trips.
As of June 1, general and overseas travel agencies who operate outbound ptoduct numbered 288 and 849, respectively showing nearly triple increasing from 122 and 254 in 1989, first allowed unrestricted travel abroad.
In this regard they have difficult in maintaining lucrative market share.
Accodingly, the number of travel agencies in korea are now trying to develope the FIT programs such as Honeymoon tour, to cope with the external condition.
They are also looking to suggest the various tour products of short haul destination with low price.
According, airline and land operrate have contracted a number of local travel agencies which are less competitive avoding the cut-throat competition.
Despite of these difficulty in outbound market, many travel professionals are now pleased find the positive change which new government is not taken strict regulating to the travel circles such as heavy taxtation.
Actually, new civilian government has announced recently a set of steps aimed to promote the tourism industry.
President Kim young sam expressed he would bring up the tourism industry by the level of trade business.
Prime Minister agreed in principle to implement some steps for travel industry on last month.
Later then transportation also a greed to provide tax benefits to tourist hotels and softening of the regulations to prohibit big conglomerate from constructing the hotels.
In recent years the tourism account togrther with the trade balkance, has registerd a deficit prompting government officials tp search for mearsures to cope with it.
The minstry plans to reorganise current 3 travel types to 2 travel and domestic travel for the settlement sound travel.
According to the ministry, it will help lend operate further by allowing them to engage in travel business order simp;y by only registeration.
In recognition of government's lifting on restrictions in inbound market, Korean outbound market is expected to face the revolutional change of outbound traffic.
AS of April this year, korean tourist arrivalls to china were estimate at 20,954 increasing over 229.5% the same period of previous year sccording to statics.
In the meantime, there have been some problem, occured by foregin countries bring the difficult in korea outbound market.
For example, Taiwan closed up its Tourism Bureau of Transportation ministry after the re-establesh ment of diplimatic ties between Korea and China, held in August, 1992.
Some experts say lucrative outbound market has been giving rise to excceive competition among domestic travel agencies and its getting to a point where customers are not the subject of the benefit.
In fact, the competition has been directed at each other rether than customer.
Travel agents should manage their priorities to an extent where the customers always come first and cooperate each other to promote the job.
There has got to be more cooperation among ourselves un the industry.
So on a more regular basis, Korean tourism industry should seek to promote the complete liberzation of overseas trip, enlargement of year and development of tour packages to meet the various demand of each tourists.
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