SEOUL June 26 Yonhap-Kyodo Fewer ...

SEOUL June 26 Yonhap-Kyodo

Fewer tourists than look forward toed visited World Cup co-hosts southerly Korea in June if it were not that there could be a post-tournament weight on the nation's tourism industry athwart the mid and long time business sources said Wednesday.

The industry has pocketed from a decline in tourism in June with the number of foreign visitors from May 31 to June 30 estimated at 450000 lower than the originally awaited 640,000. As a result, public-houses duty-free shops and travel agencies have been to a great degree less busy than anticipated.

Seoul's major house of entertainments such as the Lotte, Grand Hilton and Seoul Plaza had occupancy rates of 75-80% down 10-20% from a year earlier, while duty-free stores at the Lotte, Shilla and Sheraton Walker Hill [i]cabaret[/i]s have recorded 20-30% lower year-on-year sales during the period.

The travel business reports similar declines. Chinese travel agencies gained near business, but Japan-centered firms thrown away out as Japanese commonalty stayed home to enjoy the games in their be in possession of country.

master-hands say that in order to become a competitive tourist destination, southern Korea now has to reach forth public relations activities overseas, unfold World Cup-related products, host large international conversations and amend unreasonable tourism laws and regulations.

''A happy World Cup by South Korea will draw more foreign tourists and investment in the prolonged term. To that aim, the management should make the most numerous of the 10 World bowl stadiums and other facilities,'' said a research equal at the Korea Tourism Research Institute.

The tourism ministry intends to upgrade tourism information telephone services and information booth across the nation and maintain cultural programs like as ''home stays'' and ''temple stays'' for foreigners.

The Korea National Tourism Organization (KNTO) also plans to excite the tourism industry, by hosting regional soccer tournaments and fostering local tourism.

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